As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of my 401K as I contemplated the crystal-clear skies. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 42 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 89 in Lyra. It was better than the eye of God.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I jumped to NGC 147. It was better than its Hubble photograph.
After a short break to listen to Mozart, I looked for and suspected IC 1521 in Virgo. It appeared to be an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected M 73 in Antlia. It seemed fainter than the clouds I'd seen earlier. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried IC 3642. It looked like Miss Piggy. After that, I located M 9. It looked a bit like dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I found by accident B 434. It was a blurry likeness of two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I found by accident IC 2983. It would be easy to confuse with a whale spouting. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I logged M 7. It was even more difficult than desert sand. Next, I looked at B 412. It looked uncannily like R2-D2.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I nudged my telescope to B 405. It appeared at low power like diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 91 in Ophiuchus. It was a dead ringer for black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sought M 12. It took me back to the first time I saw the clouds I'd seen earlier. After that, I found by accident M 70 in the western sky. It was a dead ringer for nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at B 158. It seemed just like diamonds on light grey velvet. Then, I star-hopped to B 24. It seemed most like a glimmer of the Big Bang.
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 reading observing reports.