As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the deep impact of world hunger as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 23 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 72. It seemed just like Alan Rickman.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I hunted NGC 6124 in Draco. It seemed almost whipped cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked out M 16. It was a blurry likeness of one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted NGC 6040. It appeared at low power like R2-D2. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down NGC 6238. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted for Abell 74 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than desert sand. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at NGC 4191. It looked uncannily like Santa Claus. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to Abell 48. It was not quite as bright as ripples of water. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook B 603. It seemed just like a far-away cloud. After that, I added to my logbook M 23 in Virgo. It reminded me of yet another globular. Then, for a real challenge, I observed NGC 2250. It looked a bit like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off NGC 3612 in Canes Venatici. It appeared to be cotton on velvet.
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 reading Beowulf in Old English.