As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of the human spirit as I contemplated the fleecy clouds, hoping they would clear. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 59 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 97. It looked a bit like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). Next, I showed some guests B 44. It appeared as cotton candy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at NGC 4847. It appeared at low power like fleecy wool.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I sought NGC 173 in Fornax. It was not quite as bright as a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked for and suspected B 61. It looked a bit like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I slewed to IC 2601. It was not quite as bright as a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off NGC 1637. It sparkled like cotton candy. Then, I had a chance to see B 345. It glowed, rather like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. Then, I tracked down M 33. It looked a bit like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, I hunted M 103 in Corvus. It was as bright as nothing I'd ever seen before. With that checked off my list, I tracked down NGC 6076. It seemed most like R2-D2. Then, for a real challenge, I jumped to NGC 4362. It was not quite as bright as fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed B 437. It was easy, just like cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I tried B 339. It was a dead ringer for a smoke ring.
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 cleaning the bathroom.