This cache is part of a 2 stage series of caches that make up a star constellation called Orion. The first part consists of 10 caches of various types, as does the second part. (20 caches all up) There are two “final” caches, one for each series, which will require you to find a number of other caches in the series to complete the whole constellation. The original “belt” caches (see below) have been modified to be included in the series and will need to be (re-) visisted to get the required coordinates (or the owners will need to be contacted to request the missing data for those that have done them already). Most caches will be quite easy to find, no tricky hides – just something to have some fun out there :-)
This cache
This cache is a puzzle cache and GZ is hidden at
S 34°56.ABC E 117°55.DEF .
To find GZ you will need to find the answers to the following questions:
How many stars make up Orion's belt? Answer = A
Alnilam is (according to scientists) approx how many million years old? Answer = B
New info: it appears that science has found new data since I put this cache together... When I researched the cache and stars 8 years ago, I had different values to what I can find now for B and D. B now shows up as an x.7 value. If you round this number up, you need to then take 2 (y-2). if you just go with the whole number before the dot, take one (x-1)
Mintaka is a multiple star system, composed of a large B-type blue giant and a more massive ? -type white star. ? = C
Rigel is the x brightest star in the night sky. x = D
New info: It appears for D they found one brighter star since putting this cache together, so take 1 off the value you will find now :-) Hopefully that makes more sense now :-) ( O=0 in C ) If you are still having trouble finding the info, feel free to message us!
Orion is mentioned three times in the Bible - amongst others in Job xx:AE
Alnilam is F times as far away from the sun as Mintaka and Alnitak.
Additional info 2020: It appears that science has found new data since I put this cache together... When I researched the cache and stars 6 years ago, I had different values to what I can find now for B and D. Please check my comment from 21st June 2020 for more info.
The name Bellatrix is Latin for "female warrior". This star is known colloquially as the "Amazon Star". It is the twenty-seventh brightest star in the night sky. Bellatrix's luminosity is derived from its high temperature rather than its radius, a factor that also defines Betelgeuse. Bellatrix serves as Orion's left shoulder.
The Wardaman people of northern Australia know Bellatrix as Banjan, the sparkling pigment used in ceremonies conducted by Rigel the Red Kangaroo Leader in a songline when Orion is high in the sky. The other stars of Orion are his ceremonial tools and entourage. Betelgeuse is Ya-jungin "Owl Eyes Flicking", watching the ceremonies
Enjoy!
Background information on Orion
The star constellation we are putting on the Albany map is called Orion and has its first mention (that we know of) in the Old Testament of the Bible. It appears in many myths around the world and as with many other stars and constellations, many a sea farer would have known and used these stars for navigational purposes before GPSs were invented. In the southern hemisphere Orion is most visible in the evening from November to March in the north / north-western sky. Whilst when in the northern hemisphere the hunter stands firmly on his feet, here in the south he is seen to do a "head stand", so if you are looking for him in the night sky, be aware of his acrobatics ;-)
The constellation consists of 7 major stars (8 named stars) and numerous minor stars and nebulae. For the purpose of this series I have used 20 stars / nebulae out of the constellation. For more info on the various stars, navigation, history and mythology see the web links below.
Orion's seven brightest stars form a distinctive hourglass-shaped asterism, or pattern, in the night sky. Four stars—Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Saiph—form a large roughly rectangular shape, in the centre of which lie the stars of Orion's Belt. Descending from the 'belt' is a smaller line of three stars (the middle of which is in fact not a star but the Orion Nebula), known as the hunter's 'sword'.
Many of the stars are luminous hot blue supergiants, with the stars of the belt and sword forming the Orion OB1 Association. Standing out by its red hue, Betelgeuse may nevertheless be a runaway member of the same group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_%28constellation%29
Further Links: http://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/orion
http://www.space.com/16659-constellation-orion.html
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Orion.html
for the kids: http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/proj/kids/constellation/orionstars.asp
http://www.abc.net.au/science/starhunt/tour/outdoor/
History of the cache series
Pictionary, Astronomy and Geocaching – how it all worked together.
Well, you may wonder, how do you get from Astronomy and Geocaching to Pictionary? It went like this: We had put out three caches in aid of TangowithCupcake's ABCD Challenge and when they appeared on the Geocaching map as pretty little stars (our caches) my Pictionary instinct kicked in and I knew: this was Orions belt! It took a couple of years and some work to put it all together, but here it is; hope you enjoy!
Having a (sea farer) dad who taught me about stars from an early age, I am dedicating this series to him – Thanks Dad for all you taught us :-)