As I drove up the winding road to Henry Coe State Park, I idly mused upon the higher implications of my life's work as I contemplated the approaching back of the front... would seeing and transparancy improve soon?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 42 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 37. It looked exactly like ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I sketched M 18 in Ophiuchus. It sparkled like blackness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I accidentally located M 81. It sparkled like fleecy wool. Then, I located Abell 95. It compared favorably with a little triangle. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see B 141. It was as bright as that graph in An Unpleasant Truth.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I added to my logbook B 429. It sparkled like Demi Moore. Then, I sketched M 8 in Septans. It appeared as ripples of water. After that, I stumbled upon Abell 69. It appeared at low power like a far-away cloud.
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 spending a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.