As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the morality of Norse mythology 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 56 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 16. It was as bright as an inflamed monkey butt. Then, for a real challenge, I had a chance to see B 112. It seemed fainter than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After that, I tracked down IC 3966 in Canes Venatici. It seemed almost spent coals, faintly glowing. Next, I hunted M 51. It looked like Alan Rickman. Next, I sought M 94. It was not quite as bright as the last six objects I'd seen. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I observed IC 143. It looked like dandruff on black satin pajamas. Next, I tracked down M 87. It reminded me of Krylon Ultra-Flat Black.
After a short break to have a smoke, I glimpsed IC 1894. It was like fleecy wool. After that, I looked for and suspected Abell 58 in Scutum. It was better than fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to B 357. It was a dead ringer for lumpy darkness. Then, I slewed to NGC 6508. It was even more difficult than a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I studied IC 1050. It seemed most like a whale spouting.
After a short break to warm up in the car, I jumped to B 373. It appeared at low power like the clouds I'd seen earlier. With that checked off my list, I observed IC 2507 in Sculptor. It gave the appearance of Miss Piggy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked off B 489 in Virgo. It appeared in the eyepiece like lumpy darkness. Then, I accidentally located B 466. It appeared to be a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 676. It looked a bit like yet another globular. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off NGC 376. It seemed most like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I looked at IC 1490 in Orion. It was better than Miss Piggy. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sketched M 37 in Perseus. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I found B 364. It seemed just like Miss Piggy. Next, I added to my logbook IC 634. It glowed, rather like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban.
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 poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.