Pulsars (PULSating stARS) are among the most exotic objects found in the galaxy. They are the peculiar relics of massive stars that have ended their lives in a tremendously powerful explosion called a supernova. A pulsar appears to flash "on and off" many times a second. Take some comfort that you won't have to count this quickly doing this cache, though you will have to count and know your colours.
In February 1997 a supernova appeared near the Tarantula nebula in our satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 169,000 light years away. As the first supernova discovered in 1987, it was called SN1987A following astronomical convention. SN1987A was the first "nearby" supernova of the modern era and the closest supernova since Kepler's supernova in 1604. A Pulsar is expected to be found at this location.
This cache is part of TeamAstro’s journey through the Solar System. Other Solar System caches have been progressively released across Australia. The scale of TeamAstro's Solar System has been carefully calculated to reflect the distances between the planets and other Solar System objects. Your own geocaching tour of the Solar System will take you on an astronomical journey throughout Australia. Pulsars are not found in our Solar System thankfully, or else we would not be around!! Pulsars are found scattered throughout our galaxy, the Milky Way, and all other galaxies. The placement position of this cache is not to TeamAstro's usual Solar System scale.
Flashy swaps please!!
Locating this Pulsar
STEP 1: Bloke Looking for a Cache: go to the published coordinates and answer these questions:
When does the light from the Sun directly illuminate his face? AFTERNOON (=9) or MORNING (=7)? (A)
Just as TeamAstro does, this bloke is carrying a telescope. Walk approximately 25m in the direction that the objective lens is pointing. You will see 3 spot lights facing up at ~45 degrees. What is the colour of these lights when they are FULLY illuminated (ie, have been on for more that 30 mins)?
Red (=3) or White (=4) or Blue (=5) or Orange (=6) (B)
This bloke has been listening to pulses every hour for years! The nearby clock, across the road, sends out a wavefront of pulses regularly. How many pulses on:
the quarter hour (C)
the half hour (D)
STEP 2: Go to the Pulser Pole 2, k141, at:
34° 55.565 south, 138° 35.857east (NW corner).
How many audible same frequency Walk pulses?
Choose from 36,38,40,42,44,46,48,54,64,68,72,84,90. (E)
How many red Don't Walk pulses occur here? Choose from 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20. (F= red flashes - 4)
STEP 3: Tune your pulsar receiving equipment to 1395KHz. How many pulses just before the hour, every hour? (G)
Step 4: Calculation to Find the PULSAR. Good Luck and clear skies!
Latitude: 34 5 (D-3) . G (C-1) (C-C)
Longitude: 138 ((E-20) - (A+B)) . (F/C) (E/E) (B)