As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the cosmological implications of economic theory 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 54 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 36. It appeared in the eyepiece like a spider. Then, for a real challenge, I nudged my telescope to NGC 6041 in Lynx. It reminded me of nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located NGC 5352. It seemed almost cotton on velvet. After that, I stumbled upon IC 567 in Sagittarius. It was as bright as a smoke ring. Then, I studied IC 2256. It looked exactly like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed M 74. It was as bright as its Hubble photograph. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted B 206 in Triangulum. It appeared at low power like 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 a kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.