🚀 Space history geographyGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision

The Theft of the Golden Astrolabe

A historical emergency has struck! A sneaky rogue has snuck into the high-security archives and swiped the priceless Golden Astrolabe, an ancient artifact used by early star-mappers to navigate the solar system. The perpetrator fled into deep space, leaving behind a trail of weird energy and scrambled computer logs. It is up to you to decode the telemetry data, solve the navigational math puzzles, and identify the thief before they vanish into a wormhole!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Primary Navigation Tool	Secondary Jetpack Fuel	Dominant Writing Hand	Helmet Hair Style	Navigational Dislike
Ada Lovelace	GPS Glove	Liquid Neon	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Magnetic Storms
Dorothy Vaughan	Star Tracker	Plasma Spark	Left Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Charles Lindbergh	Radar Compass	Liquid Neon	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Mary Jackson	Sextant	Comet Ice	Right Handed	Braided Brown	Solar Flares
Yuri Gagarin	Sextant	Plasma Spark	Right Handed	Spiky Red	Solar Flares
Buzz Aldrin	GPS Glove	Comet Ice	Left Handed	Braided Brown	Dust Clouds
Matthew Henson	Sextant	Helium Three	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Marco Polo	Astrolabe	Solar Dust	Left Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Neil Armstrong	GPS Glove	Plasma Spark	Left Handed	Braided Brown	Dust Clouds
Mae Jemison	Sextant	Liquid Neon	Right Handed	Braided Brown	Solar Flares
Galileo Galilei	GPS Glove	Helium Three	Right Handed	Spiky Red	Magnetic Storms
Ibn Battuta	Radar Compass	Liquid Neon	Right Handed	Spiky Red	Dust Clouds
Sally Ride	Astrolabe	Plasma Spark	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Michael Collins	GPS Glove	Comet Ice	Left Handed	Spiky Red	Magnetic Storms
Valentina Tereshkova	Sextant	Liquid Neon	Left Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Ellen Ochoa	Sextant	Liquid Neon	Right Handed	Spiky Red	Dust Clouds
Roald Amundsen	Star Tracker	Helium Three	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Sacagawea	Astrolabe	Comet Ice	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Solar Flares
John Glenn	Astrolabe	Liquid Neon	Left Handed	Braided Brown	Magnetic Storms
Nicolaus Copernicus	Radar Compass	Solar Dust	Right Handed	Cropped Gray	Dust Clouds
Guion Bluford	Radar Compass	Comet Ice	Right Handed	Braided Brown	Magnetic Storms

Clue 1

Fractions of a number

To unlock the first log of the historic orbital map, we must calculate the exact fraction of solar panels that remained active during the ancient storm.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3/10 of 30 =T

5/6 of 42 =A

2/8 of 124 =R

5/6 of 18 =M

2/5 of 95 =K

2/10 of 125 =H

2/10 of 200 =P

4/10 of 50 =L

1/4 of 108 =U

4/6 of 24 =O

3/4 of 44 =I

2/10 of 30 =D

2/5 of 70 =B

2/6 of 87 =E

1/10 of 30 =N

4/10 of 10 =S

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Order of operations

The security console requires us to input the correct sequence of launch steps, carefully following the priority rules of operations to avoid a lock.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

10 × 3 - 5 =W

41 + 8 × 3 =M

4 × 10 - 1 =K

4 × 11 - 11 =G

9 × 3 - 19 =A

6 + 2 × 5 =I

4 × 8 - 17 =U

12 × 2 - 11 =F

45 + 8 × 4 =D

8 × 9 - 5 =R

19 + 2 × 4 =P

37 + 8 × 4 =O

11 × 5 - 17 =N

8 × 7 - 26 =T

46 + 7 × 4 =S

5 × 12 - 11 =E

28 + 6 × 6 =H

0/17 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We trace the runaway rocket's path by calculating the total weight of the telescope cargo across multiple identical shipping bays.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

110

2 × 9 =T

8 × 10 =C

2 × 1 =N

12 × 2 =I

8 × 8 =S

3 × 1 =L

11 × 10 =K

11 × 2 =A

7 × 11 =U

3 × 5 =E

8 × 12 =B

9 × 10 =D

7 × 1 =O

1 × 1 =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

The long-range radar only shows coarse estimations, so we must round the distances to the nearest thousand kilometers to find the bandit's flight vector.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

430

300

170

290

5000

110

1100

170

370

5000

9000

1100

900

2900

130

900

700

1100

900

130

3700

110

290

Round 432 to the nearest tenW

Round 132 to the nearest tenH

Round 8,568 to the nearest thousandG

Round 3,726 to the nearest hundredS

Round 4,648 to the nearest thousandD

Round 166 to the nearest tenO

Round 341 to the nearest hundredF

Round 2,866 to the nearest hundredY

Round 66 to the nearest tenU

Round 1,090 to the nearest hundredR

Round 373 to the nearest tenP

Round 897 to the nearest hundredA

Round 30 to the nearest tenE

Round 290 to the nearest tenN

Round 707 to the nearest hundredI

Round 113 to the nearest tenC

Round 20 to the nearest tenT

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

To power up our pursuit thrusters, we need to divide the remaining liquid fuel cells equally among our ship's primary engines.

First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!

Step 1 — solve these

72 ÷ 6 = ?

44 ÷ 4 = ?

6 ÷ 1 = ?

20 ÷ 5 = ?

90 ÷ 10 = ?

49 ÷ 7 = ?

10 ÷ 2 = ?

7 ÷ 7 = ?

20 ÷ 10 = ?

9 ÷ 3 = ?

20 ÷ 2 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain polishes the brass sextant, then ignites a bright plasma spark.

2.The villain adjusts the radar compass display, then charges up the helium three core.

3.The villain boots up the glove coordinates, then blasts off with a solar dust trail.

4.The villain polishes the brass sextant, then blasts off with a solar dust trail.

5.The villain aligns the star tracker, then blasts off with a solar dust trail.

6.The villain polishes the brass sextant, then charges up the helium three core.

7.The villain polishes the brass sextant, then leaves behind a trace of comet ice.

8.The villain aligns the star tracker, then charges up the helium three core.

9.The villain boots up the glove coordinates, then charges up the helium three core.

10.The villain aligns the star tracker, then ignites a bright plasma spark.

11.The villain adjusts the radar compass display, then blasts off with a solar dust trail.

12.The villain adjusts the radar compass display, then leaks a puddle of liquid neon.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Theft of the Golden Astrolabe

Culprit: Roald Amundsen (Star Tracker · Helium Three · Right Handed · Cropped Gray · Dust Clouds)

Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE PLASMA SPARK"
3/10 of 30 = 9 (T) · 5/6 of 42 = 35 (A) · 2/8 of 124 = 31 (R) · 5/6 of 18 = 15 (M) · 2/5 of 95 = 38 (K) · 2/10 of 125 = 25 (H) · 2/10 of 200 = 40 (P) · 4/10 of 50 = 20 (L) · 1/4 of 108 = 27 (U) · 4/6 of 24 = 16 (O) · 3/4 of 44 = 33 (I) · 2/10 of 30 = 6 (D) · 2/5 of 70 = 28 (B) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (E) · 1/10 of 30 = 3 (N) · 4/10 of 10 = 4 (S)
Clue 2 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND RIGHT HANDED GRIP MARKS ON THE SAFE"
10 × 3 - 5 = 25 (W) · 41 + 8 × 3 = 65 (M) · 4 × 10 - 1 = 39 (K) · 4 × 11 - 11 = 33 (G) · 9 × 3 - 19 = 8 (A) · 6 + 2 × 5 = 16 (I) · 4 × 8 - 17 = 15 (U) · 12 × 2 - 11 = 13 (F) · 45 + 8 × 4 = 77 (D) · 8 × 9 - 5 = 67 (R) · 19 + 2 × 4 = 27 (P) · 37 + 8 × 4 = 69 (O) · 11 × 5 - 17 = 38 (N) · 8 × 7 - 26 = 30 (T) · 46 + 7 × 4 = 74 (S) · 5 × 12 - 11 = 49 (E) · 28 + 6 × 6 = 64 (H)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE BANDIT SHUNS THICK DUST CLOUDS"
2 × 9 = 18 (T) · 8 × 10 = 80 (C) · 2 × 1 = 2 (N) · 12 × 2 = 24 (I) · 8 × 8 = 64 (S) · 3 × 1 = 3 (L) · 11 × 10 = 110 (K) · 11 × 2 = 22 (A) · 7 × 11 = 77 (U) · 3 × 5 = 15 (E) · 8 × 12 = 96 (B) · 9 × 10 = 90 (D) · 7 × 1 = 7 (O) · 1 × 1 = 1 (H)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND CROPPED GRAY HAIR AT THE SCENE"
Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (W) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (H) · Round 8,568 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (G) · Round 3,726 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (S) · Round 4,648 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (D) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (O) · Round 341 to the nearest hundred = 300 (F) · Round 2,866 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (Y) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 1,090 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (R) · Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (P) · Round 897 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (E) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (N) · Round 707 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (C) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (T)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Roald Amundsen
72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Theft of the Golden Astrolabe — set in the Chrono-Map Pavilion at the Royal Space Observatory
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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