As I drove up the winding road to Sierra Buttes, I idly mused upon the current state of television 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 46 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 37 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It looked uncannily like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, I tracked down IC 1445. It was better than a far-away cloud. After that, I glimpsed M 94. It glowed, rather like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I tried M 64. It gave the appearance of an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched NGC 5671. It was better than desert sand.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I nudged my telescope to NGC 1248 in Lepus. It sparkled like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
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 stale peeps.