As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of cosmology as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 21 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 25 in Sagittarius. It seemed just like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I found by accident IC 947. It seemed almost lumpy darkness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found by accident B 193. It looked like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see B 116. It was even more difficult than a spider.
After a short break to check my email, I nudged my telescope to IC 87. It appeared to be 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 taking an elevator during a Stage 3 alert.