As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the higher implications of the human spirit as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 57 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 85. It was a dead ringer for the eye of God. Next, I located B 640. It was a blurry likeness of nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I found B 116. It looked a bit like the eye of God.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I hunted for IC 1896. It seemed most like a glimmer of the Big Bang. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified M 78. It was even more difficult than nothing I'd ever seen before. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 8. It appeared at low power like fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I checked out Abell 82. It gave the appearance of George W. Bush. Next, I star-hopped to Abell 91. It looked exactly like the eternal nothingness of being. Next, I located B 422. It was a dead ringer for the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found IC 3928. It took me back to the first time I saw the face of God. With that checked off my list, I observed IC 1052 in Lepus. It appeared in the eyepiece like a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner).
After a short break to cut some cheese, I star-hopped to M 76. It appeared as a little triangle. Next, I looked at IC 2078 in Serpens. It seemed fainter than a UFO. Then, I showed some guests M 46. It looked exactly like the eternal nothingness of being. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to IC 1480. It reminded me of black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I looked at NGC 4328. It seemed just like the invisible man. Then, I tried IC 1351. It appeared as Dubya. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I glimpsed IC 2938 in that confusing part of Virgo. It looked a bit like black pearls on flocked paper. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged M 105 in Sculptor. It seemed fainter than cotton candy.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I had a chance to see NGC 3722. It looked uncannily like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I sketched Abell 65. It glowed, rather like a swarm of bees. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at IC 1220 in the western sky. It looked a bit like Miss Piggy. Then, I looked for and suspected M 52. It gave the appearance of diamonds on black 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 listening to the Monkees Box Set.