As I drove up the winding road to the middle of nowhere, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of tight underwear as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 24 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 19. It gave the appearance of blackness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident M 54. It was not quite as bright as cotton on velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident Abell 25 in Sculptor. It was like the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I looked at B 90. It reminded me of a glimmer of the Big Bang.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I found IC 3598 in Corvus. It seemed just like a spider. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out Abell 13. It was a blurry likeness of the invisible man.
After a short break to do some yoga, I went for B 67. It appeared in the eyepiece like diamonds on black velvet. Next, I went for Abell 65. It appeared as yet another globular. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted IC 320. It seemed fainter than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I checked out IC 2370. It compared favorably with that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I checked out B 617 in Orion. It gave the appearance of black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to do some yoga, I checked out NGC 667. It appeared as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I checked out M 36. It was easy, just like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to M 11. It reminded me of cotton on velvet. Next, I tried M 22. It appeared as a spider. Next, I found by accident IC 1779 in Pisces Austrinus. It would be easy to confuse with ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I went for NGC 130. It would be easy to confuse with two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I hunted for NGC 1060 in Ursa Minor. It gave the appearance of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I located M 91. It looked exactly like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, I jumped to IC 2502 in that confusing part of Virgo. It gave the appearance of the eye of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sought M 84 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy.
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 looking at another first attempt to image the Lagoon Nebula.