As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of my life's work as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 58 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 55. It was as bright as cotton on velvet. With that checked off my list, I tried M 73 in the western sky. It was even more difficult than ripples of water. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified B 82 in Ophiuchus. It shimmered, as if it were Santa Claus. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook M 75. It seemed fainter than the eye of God. Then, I glimpsed NGC 4816. It appeared as whipped cream. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located M 82. It appeared in the eyepiece like a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to B 287. It was like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. With that checked off my list, I sought NGC 87. It appeared to be whipped cream.
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 Segmentation fault (core dumped).