The Oldie Genius Crossword 378

[LilaBel]

temperature maintained by tailless celestial body in orbit C?M?E
is it comae? thanks

[Mamyalynne]

Comte

T in Come(t)

[LilaBel]

thanks mamyalynne. but what does comte mean? i understand your reasoning

[emeritus]

I’m sure it’s right mamyalynne but what is the definition ?

[Mamyalynne]

I was going to ask if the clue was complete or the puzzle themed?

The nearest I can link is to this man, who had an interest in matters of orbit.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/comte/

[bookbinder]

This website confirms Mamyalynne's answer:
https://www.wordplays.com/crossword-solver/temperature-maintained-by-tailless-celestial-body-in-orbit-(5)

[emeritus]

Thanks bookbinder but still not convinced how the clue defines the Solution ?

[bookbinder]

emeritus, I am also puzzled. This is a quotation from one of Auguste Comte's works, but it still doesn't fully explain the puzzle:
"I persist in the opinion that every notion of the true mean temperatures of the stars will necessarily always be concealed from us." Source: Cours de Philosophie Positive. 1835.

[Mamyalynne]

Just feels like the publication has left something out of the clue.

[Mamyalynne]

'T' is the temperature I am guessing 'maintained/in' Come(t)

He also...

//For instance, he had an acute feeling for the way humanity is dependent on astronomical conditions: assume small changes in the elliptical orbit of Earth, in the inclination of Ecliptic, and life, at least life as we know it, would have been impossible.//

But something is lacking.

[Mamyalynne]

Of course as a word - Comte is count in French.

[LilaBel]

just to add that comae is dust inside comets and has something to do with temperature

[Mamyalynne]

Comae are clouds of gas that surround the nucleus of a comet, yes.

If you are satisfied then go with that.

[LilaBel]

mamyalynne thats the problem.im not convinced...aargh!

[JJ109]

Is these a themed crossword, where some answers that follow the theme are undefined? If not, unfortunately I can't add anything else to what has already been said.

[Mamyalynne]

I did ask about a theme JJ, it's quite odd really.

[Buenchico]

I've just reached for my copy of The Oldie, which has this information which might be relevant:
"7 clues share an absent definition. One clue has a superfluous word which identifies where you might find these 7"

(Don't ask me though; I struggle to do the 'Moron crossword', as The Oldie cruelly names their easy one!)

[Mamyalynne]

Knew there'd be more to it, had to be.

Thanks Buen.

[Woodside187]

Comte is a type of France's most prolific foodstuff - which is the theme of the crossword.

[LilaBel]

Hi folks. yes, 7 clues share an absent definition. cheeses you can buy in a delicatessan. these are brie, manchego, gouda, yarg, saint agur, and stinking bishop which is 1 down and 15 across accounting for two...i think.

[Woodside187]

.... the other is comte