As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of TAC 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 21 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 99. It was as bright as the eternal nothingness of being.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I studied IC 2408. It was easy, just like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I checked off NGC 6427 in the western sky. It would be easy to confuse with an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located IC 140 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It took me back to the first time I saw a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at NGC 1060 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, I accidentally located M 42. It looked uncannily like Santa Claus.
After a short break to do some yoga, I sketched Abell 70. It somewhat resembled a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I showed some guests M 18 in Lepus. It seemed almost diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I observed Abell 38. It compared favorably with black pearls on flocked paper. Next, I hunted NGC 3767 in Corvus. It was easy, just like the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I observed NGC 5745 in Lyra. It appeared to be a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off IC 910. It appeared as a smoke ring.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I hunted M 3. It appeared in the eyepiece like the clouds I'd seen earlier.
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).