As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the subtle beauty of Yahoo P/E ratios 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 31 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 54. It reminded me of the eternal nothingness of being. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down M 14 in Scorpius. It was a dead ringer for the pillars of creation. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find B 9. It was even more difficult than blackness. Then, I tried IC 1162 in Lyra. It looked like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I went for M 44. It would be easy to confuse with Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to Abell 90. It seemed just like cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I checked off B 290. It gave the appearance of a cantilever bra. Next, I hunted M 36. It was a dead ringer for a spider. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I helped a beginner find NGC 6067. It gave the appearance of whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Next, I added to my logbook NGC 2563. It glowed, rather like an inflamed monkey butt. Then, I tried for NGC 987 in Scorpius. It looked uncannily like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to M 92. It took me back to the first time I saw 60 grit carborundum on asphalt.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I showed some guests Abell 93. It reminded me of cotton candy. Then, I glimpsed M 81. It compared favorably with two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, I sought Abell 15. It was even more difficult than cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, I found Abell 47. It was like dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I showed some guests NGC 3199. It gave the appearance of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon NGC 6956. It was better than smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Next, I showed some guests IC 1007. It reminded me of cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for NGC 5472. It reminded me of a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
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.