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.