As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the deep impact of Doonsbury as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 53 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 72 in Lyra. It was better than Santa Claus. Next, I went for M 23. It appeared as cotton candy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I identified B 84. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Then, I jumped to NGC 2007. It would be easy to confuse with the invisible man.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I nudged my telescope to IC 2038 in Draco. It seemed fainter than its Hubble photograph. Next, I showed some guests IC 2614. It was even more difficult than an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, I added to my logbook IC 2103 in Lynx. It appeared to be whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, for a real challenge, I slewed to M 66. It was a blurry likeness of nothing I'd ever seen before. After that, I found by accident B 175. It seemed almost the invisible man. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I identified NGC 3923 in Draco. It was not quite as bright as a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I sought IC 1191. It compared favorably with the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I nudged my telescope to B 137. It appeared in the eyepiece like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, for a real challenge, I identified Abell 27 in Lynx. It gave the appearance of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I stumbled upon B 370 in Cygnus. It was better than a UFO.
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 24-hour 007 marathon.