As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the study of astrology 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 50 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 17. It seemed most like desert sand. Then, I sketched Abell 97 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It took me back to the first time I saw a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, I hunted Abell 14 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It seemed just like a waterfall. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to M 75. It looked uncannily like an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I nudged my telescope to IC 3825. It looked exactly like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
After a short break to listen to the coyote symphony in the distance, I tried Abell 70. It gave the appearance of George W. Bush. After that, I checked off IC 1881 in that confusing part of Virgo. It seemed fainter than diamonds on light grey velvet. Next, I tracked down IC 3533. It seemed almost a glimmer of the Big Bang. Then, I stumbled upon B 508. It was better than a far-away cloud. After that, I located NGC 3257 in Lepus. It took me back to the first time I saw dancing elephants.
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 State of the Union address.