Phoenix Rising
Here is a multi-cache that should be easy and fun.
The cache is placed for the 2010 Pine Mountain Star Party Event.
According to mythology, the Phoenix was a mythical bird of incredible beauty who would live for 500 to 1,000 years. The fire spirit with colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). The bird would build a nest of twigs and leaves that would be lit by the noon sun. Both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (Greek for sun-city). It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song. In very few stories they are able to change into people.
This constellation, almost universally recognized as a bird, has also been called The Griffin, The Eagle, The Young Ostriches (Arabic), and The Fire Bird (Chinese). It was named Phoenix by Johann Bayer in 1603.
About the Phoenix Constellation
Phoenix is a minor constellation in the southern sky. It is named after the Phoenix, a mythical bird. It is faint; there are only two stars in the whole constellation which are brighter than magnitude 5.0. Alpha Phoenicis is named Ankaa, an Arabic word meaning 'the boat'.
The constellation stretches from roughly -39° to -57° declination, and from 23.5h to 2.5h of right ascension. This means it is generally invisible to anyone living north of the 40th parallel in the Northern Hemisphere, and remains low in the sky for anyone living north of the equator. It is easily visible from locations such as Australia and South Africa during Southern Hemisphere summer.
Here is one way to learn about this constellation from Pine Mountain Observatory.
Quick Facts
Name: Phoenix FEE-nix
Meaning: Phoenix (Type of Bird)
Abbreviation: Phe
Genitive: Phoenicis
Visible in Latitudes: 30° thru -90°
Viewing Season: Fall
Best Seen In: November, 9:00 pm
Transit Date: September 29
Right Ascension: 0.70 hours
Declination: -48.8 degrees
Area: 469.319 sq. degrees
Star Diagram
Phoenix Cache
The first waypoint is a large bucket that you get your final coords posted under the lid.
Final is another typical container.
High clearance vehicle advised.
Good luck, have fun.
8/13/2011 Cache updated and very easy now.
