My observing report

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.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

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