This is the sixth cache in a series dedicated to our Solar System.
Each cache page will have information about the planet it
represents. The series is sponsored by the Carolina Caching Club.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is the second
largest in the solar system with an equatorial diameter of 74,130
miles. Much of what is known about the planet is due to the Voyager
explorations in 1980-81. Saturn is visibly flattened at the poles,
a result of the very fast rotation of the planet on its axis. Its
day is 10 hours, 39 minutes long, and it takes 29.5 Earth years to
revolve about the Sun.
Saturn's ring system makes the planet one of the most beautiful
objects in the solar system. Space probes have shown that the main
rings are really made up of a large number of narrow ringlets.
It is thought that the rings may have been formed from larger
moons that were shattered by impacts of comets and meteoroids. The
ring composition is not known for certain, but the rings do show a
significant amount of water. They may be composed of icebergs
and/or snowballs from a few inches to a few yards in size.
Saturn has 31 officially recognized and named satellites.
Several generalizations can be made about the satellites of Saturn.
Only Titan has an appreciable atmosphere. Most of the satellites
have a synchronous rotation. The exceptions are Hyperion, which has
a chaotic orbit, and Phoebe.
Saturn has a regular system of satellites. That is, the
satellites have nearly circular orbits and lie in the equatorial
plane. The two exceptions are Iapetus and Phoebe. All of the
satellites are composed of 30 to 40% rock and 60 to 70% water
ice.
Most of the satellites reflect 60 to 90% of the light that
strikes them. The outer four satellites reflect less than this and
Phoebe reflects only 2% of the light that strikes it.
Cache Information
This cache is located on the
McMullen & Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway
(download a map). The coordinates listed at the top of the page
are to the suggested parking location to search for Saturn. From
this parking spot, it's approximately a 2 mile round trip walk on
the greenway (the downloadable map also has other parking
areas).
The trail is paved and while all stages are located off the
trail, bushwacking should be minimal. As noted on the signs around
the greenway, the area is prone to flooding, so searching for the
cache after heavy rain may increase the difficulty or make
retrieving the final cache impossible.
The clues to the final cache are obtained by finding clues on
two of Saturn's moons hidden on the greenway. Both stages (moons)
have a question with multiple choice answer. Answers can be found
in the text above describing Saturn - so be sure to print out this
cache description and take with you.
After finding each moon and determining the correct answer -
record the number after the answer. You will use this information
to determine the final coordinates for the cache. While the moons
can be found in any order, they are listed in order along the path
if you park at the suggested coordinates.
You can find the following 2 moons in any order. Moons are
hidden in trees or bushes, above ground, and on tags.
MOON 1 Location:
N 35° 03.715
W 080° 51.721
Answer the question on the moon and note the number here:
_________ = A
MOON 2 Location:
N 35° 04.086
W 080° 51.371
Answer the question on the moon and note the number here:
_________ + 4 = B
Substitute the values you found above and the final cache is
located at:
N 35° 04.[ B ]
W 080° [ A ].986
Links to the other caches in this
series:
The Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Eris