The Riddle That Almost Wasn’t

Posted on by Marian

UPDATE:  Solved by Claudia at 12:06

Welcome, and a Happy Saturday to you.  I’m surprised I managed to get this riddle published since I woke up with the firm, fixed idea that today was Sunday.  It wasn’t until I was hit with the nauseating prospect of having forgotten to publish a riddle yesterday that I figured out it wasn’t due until today.

Okay.  So sometimes I’m not so quick on the uptake.

Anyway, today’s riddle (that almost wasn’t) is an object in the real world.

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Image found on PhotoBucket

We think of this object as a single thing, but it is not.

Our ancestors would have noticed this object.

Today’s answer belongs to a select group.

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Don't you DARE gross-out! After all; this is what all the poetry is talking about.

It is closest to the Ecliptic than any other member of this group.

If you want to see this object, the best time would be in late Winter into Spring…

… on the Northern Hemisphere.

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Don't over-think this image.

The light output of this object is dominated by its primary (remember; although we think of it as one thing, it is not).

Of the four known objects composing today’s answer, one has yet to be seen.

While this object doesn’t have a huge presence in fiction, you will find it.

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Image released to public domain by author. This may not be what you think it is. Then again, it may be.

More important, perhaps, than its role in fiction, you can find writings describing this object dating to 3000 BCE.

It has long been thought to be royal.

This is definitely a horse of a different color; at least, it is to us.

The primary is young and fast.

It’s so fast, in fact, it comes close to undoing itself.

Because of this speed, where we are cold – this is hot.

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This is exactly what you think it is.

And that’s enough of that.  This is the second in a pair of fairly easy riddles I promised you.  Remember, you always have the option of solving the riddle in my email if you’ve already solved a couple this cycle.  You won’t close the riddle, but I’ll give you credit in the comments for having solved it.  If you have NOT solved a riddle in this cycle, don’t send your answer by email.  That doesn’t get you on the list for the next bonus riddle.

Good luck, and you know where to find me!
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8 thoughts on “The Riddle That Almost Wasn’t”

  1. spacer Claudia on said:

    maybe Regulus?

  2. spacer Marian on said:

    Claudia – no “maybe” about it! You’re exactly correct, and in only six minutes!

  3. spacer Claudia on said:

    Yay! for once I did not overthink the riddle spacer

  4. spacer Marian on said:

    Excellent job! Now, is there anything you’d like me to write about for you?

  5. spacer Marian on said:

    Note: Once solved, the clues become self-evident.

  6. spacer Marian on said:

    Also, the riddle was solved by Roger and Hugo in my email, at the same time Claudia solved it in the comments. Way to go, guys!

  7. spacer Claudia on said:

    Maybe something about the Planck mission, which I think is very interesting! thanks a lot!

  8. spacer Marian on said:

    Great idea! We haven’t done much on that.