As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the current implications of the human spirit as I contemplated the crystal-clear skies. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 6 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 59 in Ursa Major. It was a dead ringer for a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to NGC 4517. It looked a bit like Demi Moore. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for B 461. It would be easy to confuse with diamonds on light grey velvet. After that, I tried for IC 670. It was like the clouds I'd seen earlier. After that, I added to my logbook NGC 5848. It looked like cotton on velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I went for B 273. It was a dead ringer for a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I stumbled upon NGC 4132. It was a blurry likeness of the invisible man. Next, I tried for M 39. It seemed almost the invisible man. Then, I hunted B 147. It would be easy to confuse with a cantilever bra. Then, I found by accident M 73 in Scutum. It was a blurry likeness of that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I logged M 82. It shimmered, as if it were the eternal nothingness of being. Then, for a real challenge, I checked out B 510 in Pisces Austrinus. It appeared in the eyepiece like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at NGC 4393. It seemed just like the eternal nothingness of being. With that checked off my list, I jumped to NGC 125. It was a blurry likeness of an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane.
After a short break to walk around, I found by accident NGC 110. It was as bright as an inflamed monkey butt. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to Abell 48. It looked exactly like a glimmer of the Big Bang. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 106. It appeared as R2-D2. Next, I had a chance to see IC 3513. It was better than a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, I accidentally located B 119. It appeared at low power like cotton candy.
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 hot poker rammed up your nose.