As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of television as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. 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 29 in Lynx. It looked like desert sand. Then, for a real challenge, I logged NGC 3261. It looked uncannily like a smoke ring. After that, I hunted IC 3241. It reminded me of Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found IC 2520. It appeared in the eyepiece like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I checked off M 93. It glowed, rather like diamonds on black velvet. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to NGC 3706. It glowed, rather like the invisible man. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down M 25. It was a dead ringer for smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I looked for and suspected M 106. It was better than cotton on velvet. After that, I stumbled upon B 451. It looked uncannily like diamonds on light grey velvet. After that, I added to my logbook B 246. It compared favorably with cotton on velvet. Then, I looked for and suspected B 236. It appeared to be George W. Bush. Then, I star-hopped to B 212. It glowed, rather like desert sand.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I stumbled upon NGC 516. It seemed most like Demi Moore. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident IC 3798. It looked exactly like whispy tendrils of nebulosity.
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 a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.