Cache is NOT located at the posted coordinates! But.... it is a good place to begin your journey and take a walking "tour" of the solar system. Alpha Ridge Park is open from dawn until dusk and may occasionally close for managed hunts - see park website for more information before heading out. Located in this park is the Howard Astronomical League Observatory and their Solar System Walk - while not required to complete this puzzle nor find the cache, you are right there... But first, do your homework then you can go out and play!
This puzzle is taken from NASA JPL's annual π day challenges: mathematical problems requiring the use of π (no, not the tasty confectioner's treat variety - the math version celebrated on March 14). During the lockdown year(s), our family watched the Perseverance Rover land on Mars and held our breath as Ingenuity took its maiden voyage over the surface of another world. Try your hand at the puzzle below - I guarantee you it's not rocket science! We're going for some approximations here, so for the purposes of this exercise, you only need calculate π to 2 decimal points.
Joining the Perseverance rover on Mars is a small helicopter named Ingenuity. With twin counter-rotating blades spanning 1.2 meters, Ingenuity is a test of new technology, designed to achieve the first powered flight on another world.
Despite Mars having less gravity than Earth, the atmosphere on the Red Planet is much thinner than it is here on our home planet. This makes it challenging to lift off the ground on Mars. To generate enough lift for Ingenuity, engineers determined that the helicopter's blades need to rotate at approximately 250 radians per second on Mars.
How fast – in rotations per minute – do Ingenuity’s blades spin? Take this number, round it to the nearest HUNDRED and call it ABCD.
A typical helicopter on Earth has blades that spin at 500 rotations per minute. How many times faster or slower do Ingenuity's blades spin? Use your ROUNDED answer for the rotation speed of Ingenuity's blades to compare - call your calculated answer E.F, then round THAT answer to the nearest closest single whole number, calling that answer G.
The geocache can be found at: N 39° 19.ABF' W 76° 55.DGG'
The fine print.... BYOP, no room for anything but the log. Not far off a paved path but as always, check for ticks. Often a lonely park, this area can get busy if the sports fields are in use. Cache placed with permission from Howard County Recreation & Parks. All park rules apply - no night caching. Occasionally, the Howard Astronomical League will host night events BUT in that case the park is only open for those patrons. And I don't think they'd be too happy about someone nosing around with a flashlight when they're trying to view the night sky!
Thankfully, JPL, like this geocacher, wants to encourage learning rather than frustration. If you find yourself stumped, navigate your way to the JPL.NASA.gov site and do a little exploring on your own for Pi Day Challenges. Just might find some enlightenment.