As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 22 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 30. It appeared to be Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Next, I identified IC 1914. It was as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Next, I slewed to Abell 28. It appeared in the eyepiece like lumpy darkness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted M 32. It took me back to the first time I saw a swarm of bees. Next, I hunted for Abell 22. It seemed almost a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see NGC 602. It somewhat resembled lumpy darkness.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I identified M 51 in Pisces Austrinus. It looked a bit like Gollum. Next, I looked for and suspected B 578. It appeared as an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, I observed M 36. It was like the eye of God. With that checked off my list, I nudged my telescope to B 298. It was like Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 42. It glowed, rather like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. With that checked off my list, I star-hopped to Abell 59. It was as bright as the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I hunted for NGC 6485. It reminded me of the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I accidentally located IC 3108. It was not quite as bright as the eternal nothingness of being. Next, I tried Abell 32. It was better than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I looked at Abell 61. It looked uncannily like an inflamed monkey butt. Then, I had a chance to see IC 922. It was not quite as bright as a UFO. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to Abell 86 in Ophiuchus. It was better than ripples of water. After that, I tracked down NGC 3938 in Antlia. It looked like cotton candy.
After a short break to enjoy a nutritious snack, I added to my logbook M 79. It looked a bit like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
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 root canal.