Astronomer's Toolbox

White Dwarfs

Try This!

Below is a four-sentence cryptogram that describes the basic characteristics of a white dwarf. Try to figure out the encoded message. When you are done, check your answer.

(Note: This activity is only interactive under Netscape and Firefox.)

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

25

2

12

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

17

4

A		W							W	A		F			S
---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---
25		4	7	11	14	22		9	4	25	5	2		11	17

A		S		A					A
---		---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---
25		17	14	25	5		14	7	25	14

	A	S
---	---	---		---	---		---	---	---	---
7	25	17		1	16		21	16	5	22

					A			F
---	---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---
1	10	3	15	22	25	5		2	10	22	15

			S				.							S
---	---	---	---	---	---	---				---	---		---	---
18	5	22	17	22	1	14				11	14		11	17

S								A		S
---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---
17	22	22	1		19	22	3	25	10	17	22		11	14

				S			-		A		S	.
---	---	---	---	---		---		---	---	---	---
22	21	11	14	17		13		5	25	23	17

				W							W	A		F
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---
14	7	22		4	7	11	14	22		9	4	25	5	2

				A			S
---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
3	16	1	14	25	11	1	17		7	23	9	5	16	24	22	1

A										.
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---
25	1	9		7	22	15	11	10	21

				W							W	A		F	'	S
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---
14	7	22		4	7	11	14	22		9	4	25	5	2		17

		A							S
---	---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---
24	5	25	8	11	14	23		11	17

S			S									A
---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---
17	16		17	14	5	16	1	24		14	7	25	14

							S
---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---
11	14		18	10	15	15	17		14	7	22

A				S										S
---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---
25	14	21	16	17	18	7	22	5	22		3	15	16	17	22

							S			F	A
---	---		---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---	---
14	16		14	7	22		17	10	5	2	25	3	22

A										S		S
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
25	1	9		3	16	1	9	22	1	17	22	17

					A						A
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---
14	7	22		3	25	5	19	16	1		25	1	9

							A				S
---	---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---
16	13	23	24	22	1		25	14	16	21	17		11	1

								K					S		.
---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---		---	---	---	---	---
14	7	22		14	7	11	3	12		3	5	10	17	14

Solution

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This activity was developed by Kim Cochrane, Bowie High School, Bowie Maryland.