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Scale Model: Mercury Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: The City of Portland has a new [url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/66338]geocaching policy[/url] for geocaches placed on Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) property. The policy is intended to support the growing recreational activity of geocaching while also ensuring it does not negatively impact parks, properties, assets, staff or the public.

PP&R welcomes geocaches in many of its parks and properties. However, the property where this geocache is located is one that does not allow geocaches according to the [url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/66338]new policy[/url]. (Note: Forest Park is divided into three management units - the northernmost unit between Germantown Road and Newberry does not allow geocaches.)

There are many reasons a park may not allow geocaches, based on the determination of the staff who manage each particular site. These reasons can include that the property’s primary focus is on habitat values, the potential conflicts with other park users, among other factors. Because this geocache is in a park that does not allow them, it been archived. As the geocache owner, you are expected to retrieve the geocache container and any associated physical stages within 2 weeks. After August 27th, your geocache may be removed by parks’ staff or other designated persons.

For questions about this policy, please contact Bryan Aptekar, Portland Parks & Recreation, [url=mailto:Bryan.Aptekar@portlandoregon.gov]bryan.aptekar@portlandoregon.gov[/url].

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Hidden : 7/28/2012
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE ABOVE COORDINATES

As you'd expect, our inner most planet isn't too far from the sun. Found The Sun yet? If not, you might want to check out that cache first. (GC3R6K1) Find this cache will probably be much easier if you solve that one first.


Mercury is the smallest of the 4 terrestrial planets, and the closest to the sun. In fact it's actually slightly the smaller than the largest of Jupiter and Saturn's moons. This should tell you that you're looking for something relatively small. At the scale we've built our solar model, the diameter of the cache container is just about the right size to be Mercury itself. .

Mercury has a fairly elliptical orbit, meaning that's its distance from the sun varies quite a bit. Right now though, Mercury is about as close to the sun as it ever gets. In fact if you find the closest spot Mercury could possibly be, you should be within 20 meters of the cache. Head off on a bearing of 268 degrees from the sun and you'll get there. (Remember to project from the posted coordinates for The Sun.)

Good luck!

All of the caches in the series:



The Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Ceres
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Haumea
Makemake
Eris

A special thanks to bigeddy for providing the inspiration for this series.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Uvqqra va cynva fvtug. Ol gur rqtr bs gur ebpxf, jvgu n pbhcyr srrg bs n gerr.

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)