The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

ASTEROIDS

You are the navigator of Starship Atlantic, approaching a region of space known to be swarming with asteroids. You must chart the region, so the captain can steer safely through the debris. Your Asteroid Detection Device has sent out Across probes (1-12) and Down probes (a-1). It is your job to decipher them and display them on your screen (diagram). Each probe may be single or double—i.e., when deciphered, will yield either one word or two words. Wherever an Across probe is unable to intersect a Down probe, there must be an asteroid. This should be represented on your screen as a black square. A probe may be interrupted by any number of asteroids and in any place (not just between words). Happy mapping! Answers include seven proper words, one of them from astronomy (in probe g).

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 101.

ACROSS

1. Space rocks around front of rocket for some distance in space

Cuts 360° inside discs

2. Project passage of asteroid earthward Fine instrument follows curve

3. “Red Giants”—a different term for some stars?

4. A bum coil disabled spacecraft

5. Mountainous hail may wound one

6. Make a plot of trajectory’s initial speed Labels comet’s tail “a mixture of gas”

7. Going back and forth twice, Ed passed over land

Pass Mercury on the way back, yielding measures of radiation

8. Along with stranger, roamed galaxy

9. Took another picture of those flying past middle of asteroids

Find fault with member of Pisces

10. Mariner One goes after joining line Moon of Jupiter in a strange old region

11. Around a legendary archer, places moons

12. Seekers on travels for fuels

DOWN

a. Black hole around sides of head ship (hyph.)

b. Dodging asteroids takes born skill

c. Sphere’s actual mass Aloud, read, “Observe a terrestrial feature” (2 words)

d.Sagittarius: a story Bring oxygen to backward extraterrestrial region

e. Alien remodels less often

f. Alternately send out crew to draw Spaceship’s computer cipher shows ring around the sun

g. Head of comet sped around moon’s front and produced a ring Uncommon scenery includes Martian mountain

h. Beta storms following one subside Slab put 90° bend in bow

i. Line aboard; beam up inside; return to earth Make up with commanding officer at home

j. Indian guru trailing back of UFO Start a game with volcano coming up

k. Neat group of stars is red, yellow, and blue

l. Goes over photo—first of Saturn from the other side Ship conveying phosphorus and argon from mineral sources

Note: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, write to The Atlantic Reprint Department, 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass. 02116, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Answers to the July Puzzler, “QUADRANTS”

Across. 1. NO-TES (rev.) 5. MILL(I)-ON 11. M(IN)ISERIES 13. GRAPHED (homophone) 14. MARQUEE (homophone) 15. OGRE (rev.) 16. PE(O)N 17. O-VARIES 18. CHARCOAL (first two letters from chic, area, come, and also) 23. G(R)ANDSON (anag. + r) 24. SH-A-RING 25. DIE-T 26. TO-GO 28. MEANEST (anag.) 30. RUMBLED 31. GABARDINES (anag.) 32. MEN-TALS (salt anag.) 33. ADDER (double def.) Down. 1. ONENESS (anag.) 2. RE-QUITE 3. RENO (anag.) 4. HE-APING 6. A-V-ERRING 7. MAIL (double def.) 8. PROP(EL)S 9. CEREMONIAL (anag.) 10. SEDAN (anag.) 12. COUR(THOU)SE 17. CORNMEA-L (anag. + /; pun) 19. AC(ROB)AT 20. LOUSIER (anag.) 21. ADENOID (anag.) 22. MAD-E(I)RA 24. STRUM (hidden) 27. ELBA (rev.) 29. ESNE (anag.)