As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the morality of AP Refractors as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 33 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 25 in Serpens. It looked uncannily like lumpy darkness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found NGC 1028. It seemed most like a spider. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 4393. It looked exactly like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out Abell 13. It was like its Hubble photograph. With that checked off my list, I jumped to Abell 96. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO. Next, I nudged my telescope to IC 2549 in Sculptor. It appeared as the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I added to my logbook Abell 25. It was a blurry likeness of R2-D2. Then, I logged IC 3328. It appeared to be the eye of God. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected NGC 5312. It was a dead ringer for a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I identified NGC 6655 in Gemini. It would be easy to confuse with Gollum. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged Abell 48. It looked a bit like Alan Rickman. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to Abell 3. It seemed most like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests M 100. It compared favorably with a cantilever bra. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon Abell 22. It reminded me of the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I looked at IC 1746. It compared favorably with a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner).
Finally, it was time to pack up and leave. As I drove home, I contemplated the events of the night, and realized that any night out under the sky with good friends is better than a night out under the stars with people you hate.