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Molecular Clouds Are A Gas Mystery Cache

Hidden : 9/15/2008
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


CACHE IS NOT LOCATED AT THE POSTED COORDINATES.

Molecular Clouds are a huge complex of interstellar gas and dust, composed mostly of molecular hydrogen but also containing many other types of interstellar molecules. They are the coolest (10 to 20 K) and densest (106 to 1010 particles/cm3) portions of the interstellar medium. Stretching typically over 150 light-years and containing several hundred thousand solar masses of material, they are the largest gravitationally bound objects in the Galaxy and, in fact, the largest known objects in the universe made of molecular material. Molecular clouds are the only places where star formation (and planet formation) is known to occur. The nearest star-forming clouds are found in the constellations Ophiuchus, Taurus, and Perseus. Neat, huh?

To solve this gassy problem, figure out the following.

For the north coordinate:
The molecular cloud in the constellation Ophiuchus is located 407.975 light years from the earth. Convert light years to parsecs and then add 194 to your answer.

Number of parsecs + 194 = N 40 30.???

For the west coordinate:
The molecular cloud in the constellation Perseus is located 979.140 light years from the earth. Convert light years to parsecs and then add 608 to your answer.

Number of parsecs + 608 = N 111 50.???

Additional Hints (No hints available.)