Big Dipper Series Puzzle
In order to solve this puzzle you must gather the 7 clues as you visit the 7 geocache “stars” of the Big Dipper Series.
The coordinates of the final location are N35° 1α.βγδ W106° 29.εζη, where α, β, γ, δ, ε, ζ, and η are the lower case Greek letters associated with the Greek/Latin designations of the stars of the Big Dipper, and their values will be found at the respective caches in the Big Dipper Series. For example, Dubhe has the Greek/Latin designation Alpha Ursae Majoris or α UMa or α Ursae Majoris, so the value of α (alpha) will be found at the cache “Big Dipper Series – Dubhe”. Accurate bookkeeping will be required. Also, the brightest star of the asterism is not always the alpha star, so read the descriptions carefully.
The Big Dipper is an asterism of seven bright stars arranged in the shape of a soup ladle. The top of the Big Dipper consists of three stars which form a handle; the other four stars form a rectangle that could be considered the bowl of the dipper. The component stars are the seven brightest of the formal constellation Ursa Major. Although the stars making up the Big Dipper appear to be grouped together, in actuality they are distant from one another. The stars in the tail of the dipper are much farther away from Earth than the stars in the bowl. The closest star to Earth is about 62 light years away; the star at the top of the handle is about 360 light years away.
The Big Dipper is significant because the North Star (Polaris), the current northern pole star on Earth, can be found using it. Polaris is part of the "Little Dipper", Ursa Minor. The two stars on the outer edges of the bowl are named Dubhe and Merak and are also known as the pointer stars. If you imagine a straight line extending up from Dubhe through Merak, you will encounter Polaris, or the North Star. The North Star does not appear to move because it is above the North Pole. Not only are the stars in the Big Dipper easily found themselves, they may also be used as guides to yet other stars. Thus it is often the starting point for introducing Northern Hemisphere beginners to the night sky. Polaris, the North Star, is found by imagining a line from Merak (β) to Dubhe (α) and then extending it for five times the distance between the two Pointers.
The arrangement of the Big Dipper and Polaris are found on the Alaska State Flag.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.