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Night Sky LbNA #10503 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Martini Man
Plant date:Aug 28, 2004
Location:
City:Williams Bay
County:Walworth
State:Wisconsin
Boxes:1
Found by: Tree Sap
Last found:Jul 15, 2017
Status:FFFaFFFFFFaFFFFFFFar
Last edited:Nov 4, 2015
Time: 30 – 60 minutes (depending on how you spend your time)
Terrain: Easy to moderate

One of the great privileges Wisconsin has is hosting the world’s largest refracting telescope. Built in the nineteenth century, this truly impressive instrument of science was involved with several momentous astronomic discoveries and was employed by the likes of giants in the field like Edwin Hubble.

We decided to pay homage to this example of scientific know-how by visiting its site in southern Wisconsin. The building has a very Edwardian look to it, a combination of archaic modernity and a whiff of baroque as evidenced by the building’s embellishments.

We suggest starting with a tour of the facility. The tours are only available on Saturdays with the last tour at 12:15 PM. After the tour, get your gear and perambulate the building. You will need to note a couple of features. First of all look at the frieze over the main door. Note the number of animals charioting in front of a female, perhaps Io, goddess of the dawn. ( A = _____ ). Now circumnavigate the building and note the number of the winged griffons sitting high above ( B = _____ ). As you perform your inspection, do not fail to discern a brown box located on the east side of the building. There are some numbers you may want _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Now that you have some possibly useful data, walk to the back of the building and note a nearby building. If it has two “junior” domes to the one you just toured, then you should head towards it. Once there, look for a dog’s delight in typically gaudy colors. From this mark you will need to use your compass. Before beginning, please remember that this is a popular place and can be busy. Use your discretion.

A = Number of animals in the frieze ___
B = Number of griffons on the building ___
C = Their product ___

Now remember the number on the brown box? Add together the first three numbers (D = ___ ). Determine the product of C and D ( E = _____ ) . Add to this the last number ( F) on the brown box ( F = ____ ).
This is your compass bearing ( E + F = G = _____ ) .

You should spot an arrow. Ignore it and head along your calculated bearing. You should have five numbers you did not use from the brown box. Subtract the first remaining number from the second number and add the result to the three other numbers ________ . Determine its square ______ and subtract it from your compass bearing _______ . This will be the number of paces you need to take. You will cross over, then under, then over, then under branches and logs. Remember to always bear to the path sinister.

At the last pace stop and do some more math. Use the first two numbers from the brown box as a number of its own ( _____ ) and calculate the product of this number and the number of griffons ( _____ ) . Add this new number to your last compass setting to get a new compass bearing ( ______ ). Move in this direction 35 paces and look for an upright fork for your astronomical prize. Remember to re-hide well.


Hike length: 1-2 miles