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 represents one of the nebulae in the constellation (know as The Orion Nebula, Messier 42, M42 or the Great Nebula) and marks the sword of Orion, hanging from his belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light years across. The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinized and photographed objects in the night sky, and is among the most intensely studied celestial features. The Orion Nebula is an example of a stellar nursery where new stars are being born. Observations of the nebula have revealed approximately 700 stars in various stages of formation within the nebula. The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust.
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 three stars of Orion's Belt—Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. 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 :-)