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The Milky Way Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

SueDan83: The last dozen logs have been rather pathetic. Hence, archiving.

More
Hidden : 3/28/2019
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


The cache is not at the posted coordinates.

Update June 12, 2025

This cache is seldom found these days. We suspect that most finders now just obtain the solution from a friend.

So okay, see the solution and answer, at the bottom of the cache description.

 

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. The name describes the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye. From Earth, the Milky Way appears as a band because its disk-shaped structure is viewed from within.  The Milky Way is a double barred spiral galaxy with a diameter between 150,000 and 200,000 light-years. It is estimated to contain 100–400 billion stars and more than 100 billion planets. (Wikipedia)

 

An HST image of galaxy UGC 12158, which is thought to resemble the Milky Way in appearance.

 

The coordinates for GZ can be calculated using the text below:

E  N  H  O  U  T  N  S  D  A
N  G  O  R  T  E  N  E  I  R
E  R  E  G  P  E  O  D  S  E
E  E  R  N  I  S  H  I  O  E
D  E  E  U  N  O  I  R  F  E
E  R  T  I  S  E  T  N  P  D
Y  E  V  T  N  H  X  U  O  E
I  H  Y  E  F  S  O  T  R  A
T  S  T  F  Y  O  T  U  R  R
G  F  H  I  T  F  T  D  H  N

 

Another pen and paper exercise which will require two distinct steps to solve. 

All characters are used.

The method is a combination of GC847Q8 The Andromeda Galaxy and  GC83R95 Saturn. The image also suggests a hint.

Solution:

Start near the middle. Look at every 2nd letter as you spiral anti-clockwise. Then at end, spiral back at every other letter.
Here's the data unspiraled:
S E O N U I T N H X T I H S I N R E T V Y E F S O T U N R I D O E P G E R E E R E H S T F Y O T U R R O P F O S I E N E T R O G N E E D E Y I T G F H I T F T D H N R A E D E E E R A D S N T U O H N E

GZ:  S 34 04.183 E 150 43.769

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Abg ba gur arneol sver ulqenag.

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)