As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the insignificance of the internet as I contemplated the approaching chlorofluorocarbons ... would it be warmer tonight?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 2 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 71. It appeared to be Alan Rickman. After that, I hunted for M 56. It appeared to be that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I found M 37. It reminded me of Miss Piggy. With that checked off my list, I accidentally located IC 1502 in Perseus. It reminded me of fleecy wool. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for M 38. It was a blurry likeness of a little triangle. After that, I glimpsed M 46. It took me back to the first time I saw ripples of water. Then, I accidentally located M 63. It seemed most like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After that, I tried M 40. It appeared at low power like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests B 372 in Lepus. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I checked out IC 222. It looked exactly like a glimmer of the Big Bang. After that, I found Abell 47. It seemed almost ripples of water. Next, I looked for and suspected Abell 4 in Camelopardalis. It looked uncannily like the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I found by accident NGC 698 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a dead ringer for cotton candy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I went for B 146. It was a dead ringer for a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I stumbled upon NGC 4961 in Ursa Major. It seemed most like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged IC 2883. It somewhat resembled the eye of God. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident NGC 6150. It was easy, just like the last six objects I'd seen. After that, I studied Abell 41. It seemed most like dandruff on black satin pajamas. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident B 351 in Corvus. It appeared as Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected B 137. It sparkled like a waterfall. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to B 218. It was not quite as bright as ripples of water.
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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).