As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the study of cosmology as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 15 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 49. It compared favorably with a cantilever bra. Then, I went for IC 3845. It seemed fainter than nothing I'd ever seen before.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I looked at B 262. It reminded me of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
After a short break to check my email, I observed IC 3507. It looked uncannily like an inflamed monkey butt. After that, I glimpsed IC 3320. It was a dead ringer for a waterfall.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I studied NGC 5273 in Hydra. It was a blurry likeness of whipped cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected Abell 89 in Scutum. It was a dead ringer for R2-D2.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I tried for IC 1049 in Sculptor. It appeared as the eye of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at B 282 in Canes Venatici. It was like R2-D2. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried M 94 in Cygnus. It compared favorably with Gollum. After that, I hunted for B 253. It seemed most like diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I studied B 528. It somewhat resembled an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see B 58. It looked a bit like Smokey the Bear. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests Abell 51. It looked uncannily like the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out Abell 66 in Pisces Austrinus. It shimmered, as if it were whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I checked out M 26 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It gave the appearance of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find NGC 6769 in Ophiuchus. It looked uncannily like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I sought NGC 5347 in Triangulum. It seemed most like George W. Bush. Then, I slewed to M 95. It was not quite as bright as one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I identified B 24. It appeared in the eyepiece like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I slewed to Abell 89. It reminded me of a glimmer of the Big Bang. After that, I slewed to Abell 10. It was a dead ringer for diamonds on black velvet.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I tracked down NGC 4472. It was like a whale spouting.
After a short break to have a smoke, I checked out Abell 11 in the western sky. It looked exactly like Dubya.
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 poetry reading marathon.