LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for February 20, 2026
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
February 20, 2026
Polar ice caps
Impact craters
Olympus Mons (large volcano)
A red sky
The Curiosity rover
Clue Meanings Explained
Polar ice caps
These are high-latitude regions of a planet or moon that are covered in ice. While we usually think of Earth's Arctic and Antarctic, other planetary bodies have these frozen caps made of water ice, solid carbon dioxide, or a mix of both.
Impact craters
These are bowl-shaped depressions or pits formed by the high-speed collision of an asteroid or meteoroid with a planetary surface. They are a primary feature of geologically "quiet" worlds where there isn't enough weather or tectonic activity to erase them.
Olympus Mons (large volcano)
This is a massive shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of its planet. It is famous for being the largest volcano and the highest mountain currently discovered in the entire solar system, standing nearly three times the height of Mount Everest.
A red sky
This refers to an atmospheric condition where the scattering of light by dust particles causes the sky to appear reddish or pinkish during the day, which is the opposite of the blue sky we see on Earth.
The Curiosity rover
This is a car-sized, automated motor vehicle designed to explore the surface of another planet. Launched by NASA, its mission is to investigate the climate and geology and search for signs of past habitability.
Hello there! If youâre a fan of the daily brain-teasers on LinkedIn, you know that Pinpoint can sometimes be a bit of a rollercoaster. It starts with a clue that feels almost too broad, and by the fifth clue, youâre hitting yourself over the head because the answer was staring you in the face. Todayâs puzzle was a fantastic journey through the cosmos, specifically focusing on our neighbor in the solar system. As an analyst of these games, I love seeing how the difficulty curve drops with each subsequent hint. Todayâs set of clues moved from general geographic features to highly specific Martian landmarks. Letâs dive deep into what made this puzzle tick and how we arrived at the final answer: **Things seen on Mars.**
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, "Polar ice caps," popped up, my mind immediately stayed home on Earth. I thought the category might be "Features of Earth" or perhaps "Things affected by climate change." It was a very broad starting point because, while other planets have ice caps, Earth is the one we talk about most often in daily conversation. I almost submitted "Cold places," but I decided to wait for more information.
Then came "Impact craters." This shifted my perspective immediately. While Earth has some craters (like the Barringer Crater in Arizona), they aren't exactly a defining feature of our planet compared to the Moon or Mercury. At this point, I started thinking about "Space" or "The Moon." I was leaning heavily toward the Moon, but the "Polar ice caps" clue didn't fit the Moon quite as well as it fits Mars or Earth.
The third clue, "Olympus Mons (large volcano)," was the absolute game-changer. If you have even a passing interest in astronomy, you know that Olympus Mons is the crown jewel of Martian geography. This was the moment where the "Space" theory narrowed down specifically to one planet. I knew then that the answer had to be related to Mars, but I wanted to see how the rest of the clues would frame it.
When "A red sky" appeared as the fourth clue, it confirmed the Martian setting perfectly. On Earth, we see a blue sky because of Rayleigh scattering, but on Mars, the fine dust in the air gives the sky a distinct butterscotch or reddish hue. This was the final nail in the coffin for any other planet.
Finally, "The Curiosity rover" was the victory lap. Curiosity is one of the most famous pieces of human technology currently sitting on the Martian surface. By the time this clue appeared, I was 100% confident. I combined all the cluesâgeographic features, specific landmarks, atmospheric conditions, and human-made objectsâand arrived at the definitive answer: Things seen on Mars.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
Don't jump the gun on broad terms. Clues like "Polar ice caps" are designed to make you think of Earth first. Always wait for the second clue to see if the theme stays local or goes "out of this world."
Memorize "Superlative" landmarks. In Pinpoint, if a clue mentions the "largest," "tallest," or "deepest" of something in the solar system (like Olympus Mons), itâs a massive hint that the answer is a specific celestial body.
Connect the natural with the man-made. This puzzle blended natural geography (craters and volcanoes) with human exploration (the rover). Recognizing that a category can include both "natural things" and "objects sent there" helps narrow down the possibilities.
Atmospheric clues are key. "A red sky" is a classic descriptor used in science fiction and astronomy to identify Mars. Paying attention to colors or sensory descriptions often points directly to a specific environment.
Expert Q&A
Why was "Impact craters" included if many planets have them?
In the context of Pinpoint, clues often start general and get more specific. While many planets have craters, when combined with "Polar ice caps," the list of candidates narrows significantly to worlds with both an atmosphere and a solid surface, like Mars.
Is Olympus Mons really that much bigger than mountains on Earth?
Yes, it is absolutely massive. Itâs about 13.6 miles high, which makes it nearly three times the height of Everest. In a game like Pinpoint, such a specific landmark acts as a "key" that unlocks the entire puzzle.
Could the answer have just been "Mars"?
While "Mars" is the core theme, Pinpoint usually looks for a descriptive phrase like "Things seen on Mars" or "Associated with Mars." The game rewards identifying the common thread between the specific items listed.
What is the significance of the Curiosity rover in this puzzle?
It serves as the "anchor" clue. Most players might not know what Olympus Mons is, but almost everyone has heard of the Mars rovers. Itâs the clue designed to ensure that even if you