Google+ to provide live coverage of Curiosity's Mars landing

Washington, August 1 (ANI): As NASA's Curiosity rover prepares for an historic landing on Mars, Universe Today is teaming up with Google, the SETI Institute and CosmoQuest to provide unprecedented, live coverage of the event.

Starting at 8 pm PDT on August 5th (03:00 UTC August 6th) a live, 4-hour webcast will highlight the landing of the car-sized robotic roving laboratory to the surface of Mars.

During the webcast, via a Google Hangout on Air, scientists, engineers and other experts will provide unique insight into the rover and the landing, and viewers will have the chance to interact and ask questions.

Hosted by Universe Today's Fraser Cain, along with Dr. Pamela Gay and Dr. Phil Plait, the webcast will feature interviews with special guests, a live video feed from NASA of the landing, and live coverage from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Planetary Society's PlanetFest by reporters Scott Lewis and Amy Shira Teitel, who will be on location to interview members of the MSL team.

The landing itself is scheduled for 10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5 (05:31 UTC Aug. 6). Curiosity's landing will mark the start of a two-year mission to investigate whether one of the most intriguing places on Mars ever has offered an environment favourable for microbial life.

Universe Today, in collaboration with CosmoQuest hosts weekly virtual star parties and science conversations via Google+ Hangouts on Air, and for the Transit of Venus, hosted a special Hangout event that was watched by nearly 7,000 viewers. (ANI)