As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the deep mystery of Norse mythology 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 36 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 12. It appeared as the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I checked out B 581. It was a blurry likeness of R2-D2. Then, I found by accident Abell 74 in Lepus. It was a dead ringer for cotton on velvet. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found B 69 in Lynx. It was better than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, I accidentally located B 189. It was as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee. With that checked off my list, I studied NGC 4113 in Hydra. It looked a bit like a spitting cobra. After that, I nudged my telescope to IC 3313. It was a dead ringer for a cantilever bra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I looked at NGC 6875. It seemed fainter than cotton candy. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon NGC 3173 in Canes Venatici. It appeared as a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness.
After a short break to chat, I tried for B 580. It was better than a spider. After that, I found M 65 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It compared favorably with a UFO. With that checked off my list, I jumped to B 169. It glowed, rather like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident Abell 5 in Orion. It seemed fainter than Smokey the Bear. Then, I helped a beginner find M 95. It sparkled like the face of God. After that, I tried for M 30. It looked like whipped cream.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I sought M 70. It shimmered, as if it were a far-away cloud. Next, I hunted for NGC 861. It was a dead ringer for blackness. Next, I observed NGC 4481. It was even more difficult than a cantilever bra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I showed some guests IC 3400 in Scutum. It was better than nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I tracked down IC 1405. It reminded me of the invisible man. With that checked off my list, I found by accident Abell 53 in Orion. It was as bright as a cantilever bra.
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 day out under the hot sun with bitter enemies.