As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the morality of my 401K as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 54 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 93. It was better than all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I had a chance to see IC 2104. It was even more difficult than George W. Bush. With that checked off my list, I added to my logbook B 469. It reminded me of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I jumped to NGC 667. It somewhat resembled a far-away cloud. After that, I star-hopped to B 64. It shimmered, as if it were a spitting cobra. After that, I hunted NGC 5889. It looked a bit like desert sand. Next, I slewed to IC 2867 in Serpens. It looked a bit like smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I stumbled upon B 259. It reminded me of cotton candy. Next, I identified Abell 21. It appeared in the eyepiece like dandruff on black satin pajamas. With that checked off my list, I logged M 88. It would be easy to confuse with a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Next, I showed some guests B 29. It appeared as R2-D2. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook Abell 99 in Perseus. It reminded me of the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for B 160. It looked exactly like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. After that, I observed Abell 90 in Sculptor. It somewhat resembled an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Next, I hunted for M 76 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It was better than black pearls on flocked paper.
After a short break to find a bush to pee on, I found by accident Abell 7. It looked exactly like George W. Bush. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I located IC 2266 in Sagittarius. It was even more difficult than cotton on velvet.
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 sitting in a dentist's waiting room.