As every chic science geek well knows by now, NASA’s Curiosity successfully covered 352 million miles to touch down on the Red Planet August 6th. Now solidified as one of the most colossal accomplishments in human existence, literature fanatics and the nerd community at large are getting a wink from the International Astronomical Union as well. Acclaimed fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien, famed for his mythologically resonating contemporary fictions like that of “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, is being honored with his namesake now gracing a 30 mile crater on Mercury. In the wake of what President Obama’s space adviser called “An enormous step forward in planetary exploration”, it’s easy to see the exploratory allegories between the Fellowships adventures through Middle-Earth and NASA’s very real endeavors to Mars and on. Considering the desolate landscape and heat, is it too much to petition Mercury be re-titled to Mordor? Delusion of grandeur talking! Needless to say, it’s been one hell of a month for astronomy and, unsurprisingly, the field is filled with like minded nerds. For as dear Bilbo’s traveling song goes, “The road goes ever on and on”…