My observing report

As I drove up the winding road to Fremont Peak State Park, I idly mused upon the morality of astrology as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 1 telescopes set up.

I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 37. It was a blurry likeness of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Then, I identified B 600. It reminded me of a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. After that, I found B 623. It was even more difficult than Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. Then, for a real challenge, I tried for NGC 1822. It shimmered, as if it were a far-away cloud. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to B 47. It was a dead ringer for one of Martha Stewart's doilies. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tracked down IC 1178 in Scorpius. It was even more difficult than yet another globular. After that, I found by accident B 645. It seemed most like a cantilever bra. Next, I observed NGC 3377 in Triangulum. It appeared as a smoke ring. With that checked off my list, I found M 101. It was a dead ringer for dancing elephants. With that checked off my list, I tried B 15. It looked a bit like yet another globular. Next, I tried for Abell 15. It would be easy to confuse with nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I studied NGC 1550. It somewhat resembled the invisible man. After that, I nudged my telescope to NGC 2441 in Corvus. It was not quite as bright as a swarm of bees. Next, I found Abell 64. It appeared to be the last six objects I'd seen.

After a short break to warm up in the car, I stumbled upon NGC 6167 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It seemed just like the invisible man. Then, for a real challenge, I logged B 277 in Orion. It appeared in the eyepiece like black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I studied B 234 in Perseus. It shimmered, as if it were an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. After that, I found B 170 in Fornax. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I located NGC 6684. It seemed almost dandruff on black satin pajamas. Then, for a real challenge, I found IC 267 in Canes Venatici. It was a dead ringer for the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I logged M 15. It reminded me of a little triangle. After that, I looked at IC 2851. It appeared to be black pearls on flocked paper. Next, I sketched Abell 91 in Lyra. It somewhat resembled the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 1299 in Lepus. It was not quite as bright as smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.

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 stacking 400 Mars images by hand.


    ...Akkana (with help from David North, Jane Houston Jones, and Bill Arnett) .

(Don't forget to hit reload.)