Here's NASA's announcement about Curiosity

"Rumors and speculation that there are major new findings from the mission at this early stage are incorrect."

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1398

Stuff for astro lunch

Here's one on quantum fluctuations at the big bang: 
 http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Ashtekar11-2012

And an interesting supermassive black hole -- it is a larger fraction of its galaxy's mass than has been observed in other galaxies:
http://www.nature.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/nature/journal/v491/n7426/full/nature11592.html

Supernova News

A rare kind of SN Ia has been a re-current nova ... what's the impact on your work?

News Release 1
News Release 2

Curiousity

NASA TV will be broadcasting on line too.

Remember if the Spirit moves you and you are curious about Curiosity there is the Opportunity to watch NASA TV and Google+/CosmoQuest at Chez Alex and Stella and Io :-)   The data projector is ready and a few of our neighbours are planning to drop by.   I'll have libations and treats in expectation of a celebration.   Couldn't have been timed better - given we have a holiday on Monday LOL

Curiosity in the Lab

Thanks Heather for this link!

PhD comics visit the testing lab for the Mars rover Curiousity

Watching Curiosity Land Online

Just after midnight -- that is 12:30am Aug 6th.  One can start watching a couple of hours earlier on:

google+ with Universe Today and CosmoQuest

or

Universe Today on YouTube

Staying up Sunday night?   Fingers-crossed Curiosity makes a soft landing.

Curious about curiosity

What do people think of the little film on Astronomy Picture of the Day today?   About the landing of the Curiosity rover... July 31 2012 APOD

H.E.S.S. II first light

http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/hfm/HESS/pages/press/2012/HESS_II_first_light/

Dark Matter WIMPS ...

... are still wimping out:

http://www.interactions.org/cms/?pid=1032039

as elusive as the "goddamn" particle...