As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the higher implications of the internet 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 3 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 59. It glowed, rather like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. After that, I checked out Abell 59. It was even more difficult than all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I star-hopped to IC 482. It appeared at low power like cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for IC 1616 in Ursa Major. It somewhat resembled the eye of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I hunted for NGC 503 in Gemini. It would be easy to confuse with smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After that, I jumped to B 150. It looked a bit like yet another globular. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected M 9. It shimmered, as if it were a waterfall.
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 yet another town star party with clueless newbies.