Crossword No. 1, Starting Lineup, is a 15 by 15 midweek puzzle with a theme: three long answers each begin with the name of a planet. Every answer you solve unlocks a short note on its origin, its science or its history, so the grid works as a quick course in general knowledge.
Next crossword
Crossword No. 3 (Easy) publishes Monday, November 16, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. UTC
That is Sunday 11:00 p.m. EST / 8:00 p.m. PST (5:00 a.m. WAT). A new puzzle arrives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:00 a.m. UTC. Bookmark this page and come back to play.
How to solve
Tap a square, then type. Tap the same square again to switch between Across and Down. Use Check to mark wrong letters and Reveal if you are stuck; a revealed answer still unlocks its note. Solving a themed answer highlights it in green.
About the theme
The three long answers, SATURN RINGS, EARTHWORM and MERCURY DIME, each begin with a planet. Look for them across rows 4, 8 and 12 of the grid.