A nebula is a diffuse cloud of particles and gas in space. Around GZ, there is lots of space and a diffuse scattering of gum trees. Truly a Gum Nebula. Gum Nebula is a vast, almost circular nebula that sprawls across nearly 40° of the southern constellations Vela and Puppis. It is so large, yet faint against a bright and complex background, that it is hard to distinguish; its front edge is as close to us as 450 light-years, while its back edge lies about 1,500 light-years away. The Gum Nebula is believed to be the hugely expanded (and still-expanding, at 20 km/s) remains of a supernova that took place about a million years ago. It contains the Vela OB2 Association, the hot stars of which cause it to shine. Also embedded in the Gum are the Vela Supernova Remnant and the Vela Pulsar, though both these are very much younger. It is named after its discoverer, the Australian astronomer Colin Stanley Gum (1924-1960), who published his findings in 1955. See TeamAstro's Pulsar cache for more info on exploding stars (GCHTMK).
This cache has been placed in a nebulosity of special gum trees at Mullinger Swamp Conservation Park. These trees are some of the largest gum trees in Australia. 2 of these trees near the cache, have been identified as the 2 largest River Red Gums (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) in South Australia. The largest tree is 39m in height with a circumference of 11.3m, measured 1.3m from the ground, and is estimated to be around 800 years old. Story has it that the locals used the biggest tree as a change room when they swam in the nearby lake. There is a special surprise waiting for you in this tree. Cachers will be especially amused.
This cache is located on part of the border track. See other caches in this series for the full trip!!
Other attractions close by:
- Mullinger Swamp. A few metres away.
- The SA-Vic border. Is it in this spot? Maybe include a pic with your GPS. The cache is located exactly 2640m from longitude 141degrees east. This puts the cache 960m from the border.
- Darryl's Historic House. As a boy he used to change in the tree (he works in the Naracoorte Visitor Centre). His house features on the front cover of a local historic publication. A time capsule cache was found in the wall in the form of a bottle. Cached were the full set of historic coins from the late 1800's. Florins, shillings etc. Also a frail cache note, currently being restored. See Darryl for more info.
- Frances Pub: Call in for a rest or 3. Find the million $$$ house with the copper roof nearby. It is a place called (seriously) Too Root. A French Millionaire flies in for 4 months a year to inspect the large hobby farm property. He has recently just gone organic. Good luck Mate!
- Apsley Township: If you are into big trees, check out the main street. Fenced off, is the largest flowering gum tree in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Kleptomania Park. Yes - you will see it - between here and Bordertown, a massive field of all sorts, growing by the year. A bloke, now wifeless, had to choose. You guessed what he chose - you can see it in the front yard. If you need a bolt or a screw, nut or any part, even from 1937 Massey, he will have it. Oh, he has free range chooks too. So free they roam thru his house, and lay in the pan on the stove. Wow. Well trained fowl.
- Other nearby caches. You know what these are!!
Original cache contents: astronomical face washer, pulsar light, electric tooth brushes, playing cards, electrical tape, bottle opener, bad boy wallet, 2 elves, log book.
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. The Gum Nebula is not part of our Solar System. Nebulas are found scattered throughout our galaxy, the Milky Way, and all other galaxies.
Please ensure you return the cache to its exact hiding place, checking it is not visible to passers by before you leave. This area can be a high volume camping ground.