As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the inner workings of underwater basket weaving as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 1 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 59 in Gemini. It was better than diamonds on black velvet. Then, I observed M 80 in Ursa Minor. It was easy, just like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I slewed to B 379. It would be easy to confuse with lumpy darkness. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon IC 2692. It appeared in the eyepiece like the face of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 13. It took me back to the first time I saw a smoke ring. After that, I located NGC 4491 in Serpens. It would be easy to confuse with its Hubble photograph.
After a short break to grab a cheese snack, I checked out NGC 4289. It compared favorably with a nebula. After that, I observed Abell 48 in Ophiuchus. It compared favorably with Miss Piggy. After that, I had a chance to see IC 2038 in Perseus. It was better than Alan Rickman. Next, I located M 104 in Lynx. It was even more difficult than the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, I identified IC 570. It appeared in the eyepiece like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I star-hopped to Abell 63. It appeared at low power like cotton on velvet. Next, I found by accident B 47. It compared favorably with the eye of God. After that, I slewed to IC 2048. It was a blurry likeness of ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident M 23. It shimmered, as if it were R2-D2. Next, I tried for M 37. It took me back to the first time I saw a whale spouting. Then, I had a chance to see B 79. It glowed, rather like the eternal nothingness of being. Next, I sought IC 2692. It took me back to the first time I saw the invisible man. Then, I accidentally located B 24 in Draco. It was even more difficult than that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
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 being strapped naked to an anthill.