As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the inner workings of economic theory as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 48 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 32. It appeared as a whale spouting.
After a short break to check my email, I hunted IC 498. It somewhat resembled a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I stumbled upon Abell 3. It would be easy to confuse with a spider. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed B 647. It looked like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched M 8. It was as bright as that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
After a short break to cut some cheese, I sketched M 106. It seemed most like fleecy wool. Next, I looked at M 106. It gave the appearance of spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I checked off Abell 18. It was like lumpy darkness. Next, I stumbled upon B 573 in Scorpius. It seemed most like diamonds on black velvet. With that checked off my list, I looked at Abell 71. It would be easy to confuse with R2-D2.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I glimpsed NGC 4902 in Orion. It took me back to the first time I saw the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I accidentally located Abell 27 in Cygnus. It was a blurry likeness of Demi Moore. Then, for a real challenge, I checked out M 73 in Scutum. It appeared in the eyepiece like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Then, for a real challenge, I added to my logbook B 493. It appeared in the eyepiece like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see NGC 2948. It took me back to the first time I saw cream being swirled into hot coffee.
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 24-hour 007 marathon.