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Master the Sky Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Rob&Randi: This one has reached its usefulness. The difficulty was left at its original value of 4.5 so as not diminish credit for those who solved and found it. Thanks to all who worked and/or enjoyed it.

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Hidden : 11/2/2012
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is a puzzle cache created in the spirit of having fun on your computer as well as enjoying a hike in the woods. Contrary to the title, you don't need to be a pilot or an astonomer. You will, however, have to be a master of the art of Google. The cache is located in E C Lawrence Park and placement has been approved by the park authority. Finally, and most obvious, the cache is not located at the posted coordinates.

We reached our first year of geocaching this summer (2012). This is about the same time we upgraded our astonomical telescope to an 8" aperture. In both cases our world view has been broadened. Like all neophytes we started with simple beginner caches and worked our way up to those danged microcaches hanging in trees. Likewise with respect to the night sky we started with bright stars like Vega and Polaris, and migrated to obvious splendors like the Andromeda galaxy. In the beginning we avoided any cache with the word 'Unknown' in the page header, and we avoided those pesky magnitude 10 galaxies. Well, into the life of all geocachers and astonomers comes a puzzle you just can't resist. Luckily the difficulty level convinces you that if you keep at it you can solve it. That, and the fact that the some cache owners are willing to give a hint or two. And then there a few Puzzle Masters that are not only experts at creating the puzzle, but are willing to help the rest of us learn the craft if not the art. Three such local members of NoVAgo who have helped us move from the very basics to the just above the very basics are: BeachBuddies, cphug184, and two000miler. To them we tip our hat and say thanks for the patience, gentle nudges, and the classroom learnin'. We have solved enough of those tortorous puzzles that we decided it was time to return the favor. And since we've come a ways along the path to amateur astronomy, we offer this puzzle in that vein. We believe the level of this puzzle justifies the 4+1/2 Stars. If we get feedback and quick knockdowns of the puzzle we'll go back and rethink it. But we do believe you will enjoy the search, or give up in abject disgust. If asked, we'll be open to providing hints after some noble geocacher claims the coveted FTF. Good hunting! P.S. The cache is in a natural setting, so please be mindful of Mother Nature. Congratulations to 4Everyoungs, Serrabou, Dukester1, & Engalaand for jointly solving the puzzle and being First To Find the geocache. If you check out their photos you'll see they had a great deal of assistance from the younger generation!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

N uvag? Ernyyl? Qvqa'g jr gryy lbh gung OrnpuOhqqvrf, pcuht184, naq gjb000zvyre jrer bhe zragbef? Jryy, V thrff nal bar bs gurz jbhyq gryy lbh gung pyhrf nobhaq rireljurer vs lbh whfg ybbx orlbaq gur Boivbhf ...

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)