As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of Doonsbury as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. 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 95 in Gemini. It shimmered, as if it were the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I logged NGC 6976. It reminded me of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see NGC 2358. It glowed, rather like Dubya. Next, I showed some guests B 22. It was a dead ringer for R2-D2.
After a short break to walk around, I found NGC 4640. It seemed most like a spitting cobra. Then, I identified IC 1242. It looked uncannily like lumpy darkness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I slewed to IC 613. It reminded me of whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I looked for and suspected IC 3378 in Virgo. It reminded me of the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I studied NGC 4744 in Pisces Austrinus. It compared favorably with the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I logged Abell 48. It was a dead ringer for a swarm of bees. Then, for a real challenge, I found IC 3908 in Corvus. It seemed fainter than fleecy wool. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for NGC 4681. It somewhat resembled a whale spouting. Next, I identified B 530 in that confusing part of Virgo. It was a dead ringer for the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. After that, I found by accident B 607. It reminded me of all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, I slewed to Abell 32. It reminded me of George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook NGC 4964. It would be easy to confuse with Miss Piggy. After that, I slewed to Abell 66 in Lyra. It sparkled like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I sketched Abell 28 in Fornax. It would be easy to confuse with a whale spouting. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed M 66. It appeared at low power like cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find Abell 57 in Scutum. It shimmered, as if it were a UFO. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged B 435 in Perseus. It looked like 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 spending the evening reading blogs.