As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the inner workings of the energy crisis as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 51 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 50. It reminded me of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, I found by accident M 43. It gave the appearance of spent coals, faintly glowing. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see M 18 in Canes Venatici. It reminded me of a nebula. With that checked off my list, I located B 146. It compared favorably with lumpy darkness. Then, I jumped to Abell 54. It compared favorably with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
After a short break to have a smoke, I tried B 153. It seemed almost a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). After that, I had a chance to see Abell 27 in Canes Venatici. It looked exactly like its Hubble photograph. After that, I helped a beginner find NGC 6568 in that confusing part of Virgo. It looked uncannily like a swarm of bees. After that, I tried M 29. It glowed, rather like George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I slewed to Abell 21. It looked exactly like the invisible man. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down IC 2640. It seemed most like a glimmer of the Big Bang. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I slewed to NGC 4555. It looked like a nebula. Next, I star-hopped to NGC 1878 in Camelopardalis. It seemed fainter than a cantilever bra. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down M 18. It was like lumpy darkness. Next, I showed some guests IC 3665 in Lepus. It was not quite as bright as a little triangle.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I stumbled upon NGC 6717. It was as bright as a smoke ring. After that, I tried NGC 1724 in Lyra. It seemed almost cotton candy. Next, I added to my logbook Abell 15 in Ursa Major. It appeared at low power like a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I located IC 3911. It took me back to the first time I saw smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I hunted for M 48. It seemed fainter than a glimmer of the Big Bang.
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 poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.