(Lost our internet since Wednesday afternoon. Some fiber cable cut in our neighborhood. CenturyLink guys have been digging up different parts of the road for days. Only theme summary today. If you have any question regarding fill, please go to Comments section. Thanks for the understanding.)
Theme: "Touchdown" - LAND is directly atop each moon in the seven theme set.
Theme: "Touchdown" - LAND is directly atop each moon in the seven theme set.
23A. Male reproductive system part: PROSTATE GLAND.
29A. EARTH: LUNA.
30A. Advice pseudonym for 56 years: ANN LANDERS.
34A. MARS: DEIMOS.
51A. Christmas tree decorations: GARLANDS.
56A. JUPITER: EUROPA.
65A. Immiscible combo: OIL AN DWATER.
73A. SATURN: TITAN.
84A. Orally defames: SLANDERS.
89A. URANUS: MIRANDA.
103A. Architect's task: PLAN DESIGN.
109A. NEPTUNE: TRITON.
111A. Arrive as astronauts did 7/20/69 ... and what's literally seen in seven pairs of puzzle answers: LAND ON THE MOON.
116A. PLUTO: CHARON.
Notice all the six LANDs are parts of another words or spanning across two two/three words. None has direct LAND meaning. 111A is the only exception and it does double duty as it's over another MOON.
Alex is fond of the puzzle with rich themage. Very chaleling to design and fill a grid with overlapping theme entries.
Across:
1. One of the Magi: CASPAR.
7. Exotic pet: IGUANA.
13. Bushel quartet: PECKS.
18. Largest of the British Virgin Islands: TORTOLA.
19. Future looie, perhaps: NONCOM.
20. Hot wings did him in: ICARUS.
22. Pass receiver somewhat separated from the offensive line: WIDE OUT.
25. Antique clock molding: OGEE.
26. Brawls: MELEES.
28. Nautica competitor: IZOD.
32. Bouncing baby?: JOEY.
33. Cloth-dyeing craft: BATIK.
35. Venice vessel: GONDOLA.
37. Big name in Scotch: DEWAR.
40. Chuck who wrote "Black Belt Patriotism": NORRIS.
42. Farmwork: TILLAGE.
47. In opposition to: ATHWART.
50. Easily seen sign: NEON.
52. Plainsong singers: CHANTERS.
54. Bat used in practice: FUNGO.
57. Tailor's line: HEM.
58. Afro-Asian land: EGYPT.
60. Grieg's language: NORSK.
62. Bread holder: PAN.
63. Hitchcock's wife and collaborator: ALMA.
68. "Good golly!": MY MY.
71. "__ durn tootin'!": YER.
74. Clog cousin: SABOT.
76. 1972 host to Nixon: MAO.
77. Unsettled one?: DEBTOR.
80. Cosmonaut Vladimir: TITOV.
82. Hunter's quarry: GAME BIRD.
86. Greeting from Kermit: HI HO.
88. Neckwear in some Native American traditions: BOLO TIE.
90. Pain: HASSLE.
92. Devoted: LOYAL.
93. Hammer or stirrup: EAR BONE.
95. What Dorothy did, for most of the "Wizard of Oz" movie: DREAMT.
98. Insurance card amount: CO-PAY.
102. Uber __: food delivery service: EATS.
107. Grace conclusion: AMEN.
108. Started, as a co.: ESTD.
110. Devoted: TRUE.
114. Inundation: TORRENT.
117. Become absorbed: OSMOSE.
118. Longtime host of "The Newlywed Game" Bob: EUBANKS.
119. Lanai hi: ALOHA.
120. Winter Olympics competitor: SKATER.
121. Takes verbal potshots: SNIPES.
Down:
1. __ of vantage: favorable position: COIGN.
2. "I met a fool i' the forest" forest: ARDEN.
3. Post-apocalyptic 1987 Patrick Swayze film: STEEL DAWN.
4. Suffix with malti- and cocka-: POO.
5. Boosters, often: ALUMNI.
6. Like entertainment software with a "17+" restriction: RATED M.
7. Face-to-face: INPERSON.
8. '90s second family: GORES.
9. Juan's "some": UNOS.
10. Rm. coolers: ACS.
11. Whims: NOTIONS.
12. Blew away: AMAZED.
13. Like some horses: PIED.
14. Common ER test: ECG.
15. __ lily: CALLA.
16. Wurst topping: KRAUT.
17. Branch of Islam: SUNNI.
18. Old draft deferment: TWO A.
21. St. with the second-smallest capital: S DAK.
24. Nikkei index giant: TOYOTA.
27. Former secretary of defense Panetta: LEON.
31. Gas up?: AERATE.
32. Icon after "Not a member?": JOIN NOW.
33. Shape, as dough: BALL UP.
35. Source of electrical interference: GROUND NOISE.
36. Old Pisa dough: LIRE.
37. Russian retreat: DACHA.
38. "I Love Lucy" role: ETHEL.
39. Electric guitar vibrato producer: WHAMMY BAR.
41. Ringmaster?: REF.
43. Calif. NFLer: LARAM.
44. Witness protection plan?: ANONYMITY.
45. Econ. measure: GDP.
46. Pueblo pronoun: ESA.
48. __ Park: Queens area: REGO.
49. "Have a taste": TRY IT.
51. Attend by oneself: GO STAG.
53. Leaves: SPLITS.
55. Mardi __: GRAS.
59. Filmmaker Jacques: TATI.
61. Barbecue fare: KEBAB.
64. Big name in insurance: AETNA.
66. "Famous" Coney Island contest sponsor: NATHAN'S.
67. Ex-Cowboy quarterback Tony: ROMO.
69. Renata Tebaldi contemporary Callas: MARIA.
70. Swiss Roll-like snack: YODEL.
72. Comic Dangerfield: RODNEY.
75. "I'm listening": TELLME.
77. Mil. award: DSM.
78. Skull and Bones member: ELI.
79. Prynne's stigma: REDA.
81. Old tape initials: VHS.
83. Metaphorical self-help aid: BOOT STRAP.
85. Most endangered: RAREST.
87. Traditionalist: OLD LINER.
90. Workstation shared by employees on different shifts: HOT DESK.
91. Middle proof word: ERAT.
94. Sentimentalism: BATHOS.
96. Website with study guides: ENOTES.
97. "Meek," in "Blessed are the meek": ADNOUN.
98. Math subj.: CALC.
99. Missouri River city: OMAHA.
100. __ colony: PENAL.
101. Gyneco-'s opposite: ANDRO.
103. Verse alternative: PROSE.
104. Sherlock's adversary Adler: IRENE.
105. Greases (up), as hair: GUNKS.
106. Court pair: NETS.
108. Sicily's only landlocked province: ENNA.
109. Friendly honk: TOOT.
112. "Interesting!": OOH.
113. Combat sport, briefly: MMA.
115. Cody Bellinger stat: RBI.
C.C.
