As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the insignificance of the internet as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 44 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 64. It was not quite as bright as a cantilever bra. Then, I nudged my telescope to IC 2969. It appeared in the eyepiece like the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, I located M 65 in Triangulum. It appeared as the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I checked out NGC 2024. It gave the appearance of smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. With that checked off my list, I looked at NGC 908. It seemed most like Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified B 507. It was even more difficult than the face of God. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find NGC 1165. It would be easy to confuse with yet another globular. With that checked off my list, I tracked down Abell 83. It was a blurry likeness of a spitting cobra. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to M 19. It was easy, just like a little triangle. After that, I jumped to IC 2552. It appeared in the eyepiece like a far-away cloud. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched B 319. It seemed just like Demi Moore. Then, for a real challenge, I found IC 1266. It appeared in the eyepiece like George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I located B 448. It appeared to be nothing I'd ever seen before.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I logged M 74. It seemed just like a whale spouting. Then, for a real challenge, I tried NGC 5724. It was a blurry likeness of a cantilever bra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched NGC 3841. It was better than the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried IC 1953. It would be easy to confuse with ripples of water.
After a short break to walk around, I sketched B 268. It was even more difficult than yet another globular. After that, I found by accident IC 3778. It seemed almost its Hubble photograph.
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).