Breaking up can be easy to do

According to reports, Comet Hergenrother, one of the little comets that keeps circling around near the sun (a periodic comet) rather than the big rare ones, was observed getting brighter a couple of weeks ago by the astronomers that do that type of thing.  It turns out that the brightening was indicative of a somewhat rare to observe, but probably fairly common in the solar system scale of things, cometary breakup.  Comet Hergenrother's main body broke into four smaller bodies. 

Nothing to worry about impact-wise, but interesting to watch.

Scientists monitor Hergenrother's breakup

Comet Hergenrother puts on a show

This picture of Comet Hergenrother supposedly shows four chunks, but I'm only sure of three

Opportunity update - still going

While the Curiosity rover tests out its array of instruments, the long-lived Opportunity rover just keeps going and contributing to our knowledge of Mars.   It's checking out a region called 'Matijevic Hill'.  Still trying to find clay minerals, I think.

Survey of Matijevic Hill continues

Here's a recent picture from the place.

There's also a stereo picture (need the blue-red glasses for it)







Also from Mars, a stunning image from the Mars Express orbiter of the Nereidium Montes region:

Nereidium Montes helps unlock Mars' glacial past

Is Lionel Messi's WAG (and now mother of his child) pretty?

In the sporting WAG news (WAG standing for "wives and girlfriends"), superduperstar Lionel Messi's girl Antonella Roccuzzo gave birth to Messi's son.

This of course made me wonder, given that I hadn't seen any pictures of her before, how she is qualified to be the girlfriend of the magical Messi.  The primary qualification being a high level of hotness.  Now, I'm sure that Lionel loves her for more than her looks, but world-class looks are always a good thing to have in a top level WAG.

Turns out that Antonella can be both sweet and hot.  Nice combination for a WAG to have.

Sweet

Hot

VERY hot

New things small

Being a Web and science aficionado, I always look forward to the Nikon microphotograpy contest.  Huffington Post has the top 20.   My favorite was cacoxenite (an iron aluminum phosphate), shown below.  The coral sand picture would make a great wallpaper pattern for a scientifically-oriented room!

Cacoxenite

Coral Sand

In anticipation of 'Skyfall'

I'd forgotten that accomplished film soundtrack composer (and accomplished musician as well) John Barry passed away in 2011.  Among his many, many film scores, he was famous for one particular character's themes:

Bond.  James Bond.

So, looking forward to the release of 'Skyfall', I discovered this YouTube medley of Barry's James Bond work from the John Barry memorial concert.

Grab a bottle of Bollinger and sip as you listen. 

Starting about the 14 minute mark is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", with some pictures of Tracy Bond (Diana Rigg), including both the sexy fur scene and the heartbreakingly tragic end of the movie.  

Self-explanatory

Public service message, courtesy of BrainPickings




Definitely requires a full course of study.

Lovely Miranda in Esquire

The Daily Mail provides coverage of the uncoverage of Miranda Kerr in Esquire magazine.  And I applaud heartily.

'I believe in celebrating the female figure'

Well, we're certainly alike in one respect, as I do too.

Still, I think the best way to enjoy Miranda is in her Victoria's Secret duds.  Or lack of them, as the case might be.