As I drove up the winding road to the Peak, I idly mused upon the morality of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 51 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 90. It appeared in the eyepiece like spent coals, faintly glowing. With that checked off my list, I identified IC 1485. It was not quite as bright as the face of God. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked for and suspected NGC 4131 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed just like an inflamed monkey butt.
After a short break to recite my mantra, I studied M 76 in Lepus. It seemed most like the last six objects I'd seen.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I found M 37. It was like diamonds on black velvet.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I star-hopped to B 381 in Orion. It appeared in the eyepiece like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, I checked out M 71. It was as bright as two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I star-hopped to B 544. It glowed, rather like 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After that, I identified NGC 6149. It seemed just like lumpy darkness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I stumbled upon Abell 11. It took me back to the first time I saw the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I nudged my telescope to NGC 4148. It reminded me of R2-D2. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 10. It shimmered, as if it were cream being swirled into hot coffee.
After a short break to walk around, I sought IC 3571. It somewhat resembled an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. With that checked off my list, I looked at Abell 55. It was like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I tracked down B 80 in Canes Venatici. It appeared at low power like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, I identified Abell 15. It looked exactly like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, I sought M 26. It reminded me of dandruff on black satin pajamas. Next, I found by accident Abell 33 in Hydra. It seemed just like blackness. With that checked off my list, I checked off IC 1245. It looked like ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I glimpsed NGC 4434. It gave the appearance of Dubya. Then, I hunted B 371 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was a blurry likeness of spent coals, faintly glowing.
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 spending a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.