Asteroid ᠅
Solution
by Ivan Wang and Tracey Lin
Each puzzle in this round is a set of cryptic clues themed around a particular mechanic. The clues are given alphabetically by answer, and solving a subset unlocks the next puzzle in the sequence. For a list of standard mechanics, see the Puzzled Pint guide.
The gimmick of this capstone puzzle combines prior mechanics or uses them in novel ways, e.g. by composing mathematical sequences, applying math, or taking specific words from another corpus.
Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite imagery showed close-up, frequently (fortunate, not practical) (4) | MOON | 3,5,7,13 (fortunate numbers) - 1,2,4,6 (practical numbers) = 2,3,3,7 |
| (Ulam and Thue–Morse) proposal stipulates: lullabies influence somniloquists’ withdrawal headrest (6) | PILLOW | 1,2,3,4,6,8 (Ulam numbers) + 0,1,1,0,1,0 (Thue–Morse sequence) = 1,3,4,4,7,8 |
| (Composite of Alcuin)’s students can’t cut back examination of diving gear (5) | SCUBA | Take the composite numbers (4,6,8,9,10,...) of Alcuin’s sequence: _,_,_,1,_,1,_,2,1,3,... |
| Wrote a love letter, e.g., with opening (square words of the Constitution) (5) | WOOED | First letters of square numbered words in the Preamble of the Constitution: We, Of, Order, Establish, Defence |