Curiosity reaches destination after 2 years:

http://www.space.com/27123-curiosity...stination.html

From above link:


After two years of driving and drilling on Mars, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached its "far frontier": the base of a giant Martian mountain.

The Curiosity rover has reached the base of the 3.4-mile (5.5 kilometers) mountain Aeolis Mons, unofficially dubbed Mount Sharp, NASA officials announced in a news conference today (Sept. 11). After landing on the Red Planet in 2012 and driving close to 5.6 miles (9 km), Curiosity is now preparing to dig into the Martian dirt, probing the mountain's base for clues about the planet's past.

The announcement also comes on the heels of a somewhat critical science review of the Curiosity mission.

Methane fluctuations plus organic compounds found.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19087/#.VJmEHUAKA


http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19089/#.VJmEfUAKA


NASA on the discovery of methane spikes and organics by Curiousity

originally from space.com

Yeah, but that stupid cow is going to eventually step on it and ruin it. Damn Bovines. There goes another great discovery down the drain. Where's a cow puncher when you need him.

So Zeno, give us the details of your planned "SMP Mars Bar"

Logistics of supply will be a real problem. Perhaps a large satellite supply base with shuttle support to Mars would help.

Same simple set up. Booze, Dancing Babes, Brothel and Gambling. The location shall be set up right on the edge of Valles Marineris for the spectacular view, and with the added benefit that unruly patrons can be jettisoned into the vast canyon. Three floors, steel/glass/polymer construction as needed. Robots will be used for all rudimentary tasks like janitorial service, dishwashing etc. AI's will be utilized as slaves or shot on sight. Frontier-style hangings every Sunday Morning. Bingo afterwards. Poker tournaments on Friday and Saturday. BJs half price Monday-Wednesday.

Will there be real humans giving the BJs?

The BJ department will be under BTM2's management so I can't say for sure. I'll hazard a guess that both human and robotic (AI slaves) will be utilized. Added choice is usually good for business.

"NASA's Curiosity Mars rover can be seen at the "Pahrump Hills" area of Gale Crater in this view from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Pahrump Hills is an outcrop at the base of Mount Sharp. The region contains sedimentary rocks that scientists believe formed in the presence of water."

http://mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/?ImageID=6947

Possible microbial mat fossils?

Dr Nora Noffke of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, says she has found potential evidence of former life in photos taken by NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity.

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs...ournalCode=ast

The case for brine in soil

"Fast Facts:
-- Conditions that might produce liquid brine in Martian soil extend closer to the equator than expected
-- Perchlorate salt in soil can pull water molecules from the atmosphere and act as anti-freeze
-- Presence of brine would not make Curiosity's vicinity favorable for microbes"

I'm not a scientist but if you have ANY questions about the Hubble telescope, post them here. If this is the wrong forum for this topic. Please move.

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Hubble.

Edit...I'm completely grunching.