ASTRO SPACE NEWS

A DIVISION OF MID NORTH COAST ASTRONOMY (NSW)

(ASTRO) DAVE RENEKE

SPACE WRITER - MEDIA PERSONALITY - SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT ABC/COMMERCIAL RADIO - LECTURER - ASTRONOMY OUTREACH PROGRAMS - ASTRONOMY TOUR GUIDE - TELESCOPE SALES/SERVICE/LESSONS - MID NORTH COAST ASTRONOMY GROUP (Est. 2002)   Enquiries: (02) 6585 2260       Mobile: 0400 636 363        Email: davereneke@gmail.com

                  * Special Offer - Next Booking gets a 10% Discount on the Overall Tour!

                     Email: .norfolkislandstargazing@gmail.com Or call 0402 335 005

          'STARGAZING TOURS' ON THE PORT AdVENTURE        Port Macquarie NSW

Presented by renowned astronomer and media personality, Dave Reneke, the evening will start with a breathtaking Secrets of the Universe slideshow. After the presentation, take a break and head to the top deck for an interactive laser-guided sky tour.

 Dave will use a high-powered laser to highlight the major stars, constellations, and planets visible that night,  As you cruise, be sure to keep an eye out for dolphins, adding to the magic of the experience.  These unique cruises run monthly u/book-cruise-by-date    Enq: Bookings ELSA 0434 393 199                                                                                                          

The Winter Solstice In 2025? Australia's Shortest Day Of The Year Is Close

Getting a little tired of stumbling home in pitch black at 6pm? Never fear. Australia will experience the shortest day of the year in June with the winter solstice. While a long dark night may seem ominous, it means we're one step closer to spring (and the return of daylight savings). Australia will experience its winter solstice on June 21, as the South Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. We've collated everything you need to know about the shortest day of the year. 

Betelgeuse is Acting Strange Again—Are We on the Brink of a Celestial Spectacle?

It's happening again. Betelgeuse, the fiery red shoulder of the Orion constellation and one of the most massive stars visible from Earth, is misbehaving. Located around 640 light-years away, this red supergiant is once more experiencing an eerie dimming phase—and astronomers are once more on edge, eyes glued to telescopes, fingers crossed, and theories flying.

Is Betelgeuse about to die in spectacular fashion? Could we soon witness one of the greatest light shows the night sky has ever offered—a supernova so bright it would be visible in the daytime? Or is this just another hiccup in the life of a star known for its unpredictability?

Let's rewind to late 2019. Betelgeuse began to fade—dramatically. By early 2020, it had lost more than 60% of its brightness. Panic (or excitement) swept the astronomical community. Was this it? Was the old giant about to go supernova? As we held our collective breath, scientists scrambled to explain the dimming. Theories ranged from surface cooling to massive convective cells to, eventually, a veil of cosmic dust expelled from the star itself. In the end, it was chalked up to a giant stellar sneeze: the star had burped out a cloud of material, which then condensed and briefly blocked some of its light.

But here we are again. In 2025, Betelgeuse is up to its old tricks. Astronomers have detected a new dimming event, and this one has its own flavor of mystery. The brightness drop isn't quite as severe as the Great Dimming of 2019–2020, but the star is definitely flickering oddly—too rapidly, too inconsistently. And the timing is curious. Some models suggest Betelgeuse may be entering the final throes of its life.

A red supergiant like Betelgeuse is a ticking time bomb, cosmically speaking. Having burned through its hydrogen, it's now fusing heavier elements in a frantic race against gravitational collapse. Eventually, it will reach iron in its core—a dead end for fusion. When that happens, the star's core will collapse in milliseconds, triggering a cataclysmic supernova explosion.

But here's the catch: this could happen tomorrow, or in 100,000 years.

If Betelgeuse does go supernova in our lifetimes, it would be a once-in-a-civilisation event. For weeks or months, it would outshine every star in the night sky—possibly even visible in the daylight. Some calculations suggest it could rival the brightness of a full Moon, casting shadows at night. And yet, despite the drama, it poses no danger to Earth. At 640 light-years away, it's far enough that we'll get a stunning light show without the harmful radiation.

Still, it's a strange feeling—knowing that, somewhere out there, a star is dying. And we might be seeing its final performance. Or perhaps we're just witnessing more stellar indigestion.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Betelgeuse is huge. If placed at the center of our solar system, its outer surface would engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and possibly Mars. It's not just a big star—it's a bloated, unstable, boiling cauldron of plasma, convulsing and sputtering in its old age.

So for now, the world watches. Telescopes across Earth and in orbit are trained on Orion. Is this just another dusty shrug? Or is Betelgeuse preparing for its final bow?

Whatever happens, it reminds us of the grand scale and unpredictable rhythm of the cosmos. We are watching a giant breathe its last—or stretch before another long sleep. Either way, the suspense is astronomical.

"The Stowaways: Life That Rode the Stars"

When astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station scraped a dark film from a solar panel during routine maintenance, they didn't expect the lab results back on Earth to scream one thing: life. The sample wasn't just dust or degraded material—it was teeming with bacteria. Not just any bacteria, but extremophiles—microorganisms that had somehow thrived in space's harsh vacuum, unfiltered radiation, and temperature swings colder than Pluto's toes.

Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Space Technology were stunned. "We always expect to find trace microbes on spacecraft—usually from Earth contamination," said Dr. Han Li, lead microbiologist. "But these… these were not just surviving. They were multiplying." The organisms, genetically distinct from known Earth bacteria, hinted at a deeper mystery: had they evolved in space? Or had we unknowingly launched nature's most durable hitchhikers into orbit, where they'd discovered a new frontier?

Meanwhile, halfway across the world at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, another puzzle was unfolding. Researchers there, who pride themselves on maintaining ultra-clean conditions in spacecraft assembly rooms—cleaner than hospital operating theatres—had just discovered 26 new species of microbes thriving right under their noses.

Some had never been seen before. "We call them 'clean room champions,'" joked Dr. Marianne Keane, who led the study. "They're resistant to alcohol, UV light, extreme temperatures. If cockroaches and Twinkies are post-apocalypse survivors, these microbes are already there waiting for us."

Even more alarming, genetic sequencing revealed similarities between the clean room organisms and those found aboard Tiangong—suggesting either convergent evolution under similar hostile conditions… or cross-contamination between global space programs. Which raised a disturbing possibility: if our spacecraft carry these tiny stowaways into space—no matter how many sterilization cycles they endure—then every mission could be a microbial migration. We're not just exploring the cosmos; we're seeding it.

"This isn't science fiction anymore," said Keane. "We need to rethink planetary protection. These extremophiles could hitch a ride to Mars, Europa, or Titan, and adapt—or worse, interfere with the search for indigenous life."While some see this as a biohazard, others argue it proves life's tenacity. "If Earth microbes can survive and even thrive in low-Earth orbit," Li countered, "then maybe life can arise elsewhere—or at least travel between planets."

It's the cosmic panspermia theory, reborn in a petri dish. The story has sparked debate at the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, with calls for stricter biosecurity protocols. But in the meantime, the microbes remain aboard the Tiangong station, under strict containment. And somewhere in a quiet corner of a cleanroom in California, beneath polished steel and filtered air, life watches… and waits. The next mission launches in eight months.

A New Earth? The Thrilling Discovery of Proxima B Sparks Hopes of Alien Life 

A truly thrilling discovery has stirred the scientific world: a planet strikingly similar to Earth has been confirmed orbiting the closest star to our solar system. Named Proxima B, this rocky world orbits Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star just 4.2 light-years away. That's close—on a cosmic scale, it's in our backyard—and it's got scientists and dreamers alike buzzing with excitement.

Proxima B is about 1.3 times the mass of Earth, making it slightly bigger but likely very similar in structure. It's not a gas giant, but a solid, rocky planet, which means it could theoretically support land and oceans. And most importantly, it sits in its star's habitable zone—the not-too-hot, not-too-cold region where liquid water might exist on the surface. Since water is essential for life as we know it, this gives the planet a real shot at being habitable.

The planet's temperatures are estimated to range between –90°C and 30°C. That's cold, yes—but not impossibly so, especially if it has an atmosphere that can help keep things stable. If confirmed, liquid water on the surface of Proxima B would be a game-changer in our hunt for life beyond Earth.

And life is what this discovery is really about. While there's no evidence yet of aliens or microbes, Proxima B ticks some of the key boxes: a rocky surface, possible water, and temperatures that could support biology. That's more than most exoplanets can claim, making it one of the most promising places we've ever found to search for alien life.

Of course, getting there is another matter. Despite being "close," Proxima B is still over 40 trillion kilometres away. With today's technology, a spacecraft would take tens of thousands of years to make the trip. But scientists aren't standing still. Ambitious projects like Breakthrough Starshot are exploring ultra-fast probes powered by lasers—tiny spacecraft that could potentially reach Proxima B in about 20 years.

Even so, we can't see Proxima B directly—not yet. It's too small and too far away for our current telescopes. But we know it's there thanks to the way its gravity tugs on its parent star, causing tiny wobbles in its motion. That's how scientists spotted it in the first place. In the coming years, new mega-telescopes like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) might be able to get a clearer look at the planet, even revealing signs of an atmosphere—or something more.

Proxima B represents a powerful idea: that Earth-like worlds may be common in the universe, and that the building blocks for life could be scattered throughout the galaxy. It gives us a tantalising glimpse of a potential second home—or of a planet already alive with its own strange biology.

In short, Proxima B could be our first real step toward discovering life beyond Earth. And with new missions, technologies, and telescopes on the horizon, the next chapter of this cosmic story may not be so far away.

Lost in Time: The Disappearance of Apollo 11's Watch and Moonwalk Footage

In the summer of 1969, humanity made history. Apollo 11's mission to the Moon became one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. But as with any grand tale, there are loose ends—mysteries that have never been fully explained. Two particular items from that mission have sparked decades of speculation: Buzz Aldrin's Moon watch and the original Moonwalk footage.

Both are missing. Both vanished under strange circumstances and both left behind stories as intriguing as the mission itself, but let's start with the watch. Buzz Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster Professional was no ordinary timepiece. It was the only model NASA certified for spacewalks and lunar excursions. While Neil Armstrong left his watch inside the Lunar Module (the onboard timer had failed), Aldrin wore his during the historic walk. That made his watch the first ever to tick on the Moon.

After returning to Earth, Aldrin followed standard NASA procedure and turned in his gear, including the now-famous wristwatch, for transfer to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. But somewhere along the bureaucratic chain, the most important watch in space history simply vanished! Lost for all time, pardon the pun.

No alarms. No press releases. No detailed investigation was ever made public. It was quietly, and officially, listed as "lost in transit"—a "phrase that does little to explain how a priceless piece of lunar history could disappear under NASA's watchful eye. Was it stolen? Misplaced? Swapped by a collector or a staffer with sticky fingers? No one knows.

Today, if it resurfaced, that watch could fetch upwards of $20–30 million at auction. But despite whispers, rumours, and theories, it's never turned up. Buzz Aldrin, now in his 90s, has said he did everything by the book. The paperwork was filed. The watch was handed over. And then… nothing.

But the watch wasn't the only thing to go missing. The original, high-quality video footage of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon, that grainy black-and-white moment beamed to the world, is also gone! Lost for all time! What we see today is not the original recording but a second-hand video of a monitor displaying the original feed. In other words, we're watching a copy of a copy.

NASA recorded the broadcast in a special format called Slow Scan Television format, not compatible with standard TV at the time. To share it live, engineers pointed a regular television camera at a monitor showing the video feed—effectively filming the screen. The original tapes, containing pristine images, were later stored… and eventually lost.

Hold onto something because you won't believe this! In 2006, after years of enquiry, NASA admitted the master tapes were erased during a routine magnetic tape recycling programme in the 1980s. At the time, the agency was facing budget constraints, so NASA sent out a communiqué to reuse all recorded tape! It's hard to believe that the historic Moon footage was wiped to make room for newer data—a victim of poor archiving and short-sighted planning.

Together, the missing watch and missing Moonwalk footage serve as cautionary tales. In the excitement of giant leaps, small steps, like cataloguing, storing, and protecting artefacts, can be overlooked.

So here we are, decades later, still wondering: how do you lose a priceless wristwatch and humanity's greatest video? Simple. You don't lose them in space. You lose them right here on Earth.

'What a Waste': US Scientists Decry Trump's 47% Cuts to NASA Science Budget

In a move that sent shockwaves through the scientific community, former President Donald Trump's 2018 budget proposal included a staggering 47% cut to NASA's science division—a reduction from $5.8 billion to roughly $3.1 billion. The proposed cuts specifically targeted Earth science programs, climate monitoring, and space-based observatories—areas crucial for both planetary exploration and tracking changes to our own world.

Among the hardest hit were Earth science missions, slated for a 30% funding drop, including the outright cancellation of four climate-related satellite projects: PACE, CLARREO Pathfinder, OCO-3, and the DSCOVR Earth-viewing instruments. These missions provide critical data on ocean health, carbon dioxide levels, and solar radiation—all essential tools for understanding climate change and natural disasters.

At stake were not only scientific discoveries, but also practical, life-saving systems. NASA's Earth-observing satellites are instrumental in weather forecasting, hurricane tracking, and wildfire detection. A report from the National Academies of Sciences warned that losing this capability would degrade disaster response and economic planning across the country.

The Trump budget also slashed funding for NASA's Office of Education, eliminating the $100 million program entirely—jeopardizing STEM outreach initiatives for schools, minority groups, and underprivileged students. Meanwhile, NASA's flagship missions—like the James Webb Space Telescope—faced delays and budget uncertainty, threatening years of international collaboration and billions in investment.

"This isn't belt-tightening. It's sabotage," said one planetary scientist. "We're not just losing data; we're losing time—time we don't have if we want to confront climate change."

Despite these deep cuts to science, the Trump administration left funding for high-profile human spaceflight programs largely intact, proposing $19 billion overall for NASA—only a 0.8% decrease. Critics noted the contradiction: funding the spectacle of space exploration while defunding the substance that underpins it.

Public outcry was swift. Thousands of scientists signed open letters condemning the cuts. A 2017 Pew Research poll showed that 75% of Americans supported continued funding for climate research. Congressional backlash eventually restored much of the science funding in revised budgets, but the damage—both financial and symbolic—was done.

In the end, the proposed cuts served as a stark reminder: space science isn't just about exploring other worlds—it's about understanding our own. Undermining that effort in the name of politics was, in the words of many scientists, "a waste of potential, progress, and plain common sense."

 Could the Answers to Cancer Lie in Space? 

With the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled to retire in 2030, scientists are racing to harness its microgravity environment for groundbreaking cancer research. Although space conditions can harm astronauts—causing swollen faces, distorted eyeballs, and severe headaches—the way the body reacts in microgravity also offers unique opportunities for studying disease, especially cancer. Key Details:

• Accelerated Research: Microgravity acts as a biological accelerator. Davide Marotta from the ISS National Laboratory explains that disease processes, which may take 10 months on Earth, can unfold in just 10 days in space, making it an ideal environment to study rapid cell changes, mutations, and treatment effects.

• Wake Forest University's Artificial Organ Study: A pioneering experiment in 2024 will send lab-grown tumors and artificial organs to the ISS. The goal is to develop cancer-screening tests that are faster and more sensitive than existing methods. It marks the first time artificial organs will be used for cancer testing in space.

• Cell Behavior in Microgravity: On Earth, gravity forces cancer cells to grow flat, attached to a surface. In space, however, they form 3D clusters or "bubbles" that expand more freely and quickly. This makes them easier to observe and more responsive to testing.

• Notre Dame's Bubble-Based Test: Scientists at the University of Notre Dame are using these cancer bubbles to develop a revolutionary single-drop blood test for cancer. By studying how substances interact on the surface of these 3D cell clusters, researchers hope to produce a screening tool that's both efficient and affordable.

• Long-Term Vision: Researcher Tengfei Luo believes that if this space-developed technology becomes widely accessible and cost-effective, it could be integrated into routine annual health check-ups, potentially enabling early detection of multiple cancer types. Why It Matters:

This new wave of space-based cancer research could transform medical diagnostics. What sounds like science fiction—using outer space to detect disease—may soon become a mainstream medical reality, providing faster, more accurate screening tools and ultimately saving lives on Earth.

As the ISS edges closer to its end, scientists are determined to make the most of the time left in orbit—proving that the future of medicine might just be written among the stars.

You might picture space as a big, black, silent nothing — no air, no life, and definitely no smells. But here's a cosmic twist: space reeks. Not in a "garbage day in summer" way. More like… burnt steak wrapped in welding fumes, with a dash of hot metal and a suspicious whiff of gunpowder. Some astronauts have even said it smells like cat pee. Yep true!.

So, what's going on? How does the vacuum of space — which should be totally scentless — end up smelling like a barbecue gone wrong? Well, it's not space itself giving off the aroma. It's what sticks to the astronauts. After a spacewalk, they float back into the airlock, peel off their suits — and boom. That strange smell hits them.

It's not coming from the void of space but from their gear. The space particles that clung to their suits have been through cosmic hell: blasted by solar radiation, zapped by cosmic rays, and left twitchy and excited.

When these supercharged particles meet the oxygen inside the spacecraft, they go through a process called oxidation. That's a fancy way of saying they release byproducts — which just happen to smell like burnt things, brake pads, and the inside of a metal shop. Voilà: the scent of the stars.

NASA took this seriously enough to bottle it — really. They hired a chemist to recreate the smell of space. Why? To prepare astronauts for the surprise of it all. Floating in orbit, dizzy from microgravity, the last thing you want is to be sideswiped by the smell of fried wiring and ammonia. It's astronaut training — but for your nose.

And the Moon? It stinks too. Apollo astronauts came back into the lunar lander trailing fine grey dust. That dust gave off a distinct scent, like used fireworks or spent gunpowder. But get this: once they brought the Moon dust back to Earth, it stopped smelling. Why? Because the chemical compounds only react when they first hit oxygen. After that, the magic's gone. A one-sniff wonder.

But wait — there's more. It's not just astronauts getting nosey. Scientists with giant telescopes have studied distant clouds in deep space and found some truly bizarre molecules floating between the stars. How bizarre? Try the smell of burnt toast. Or rum. Or raspberries. Yep, there's an interstellar cloud laced with ethylformate, a molecule that smells like rum and raspberries. We're not saying space is a cocktail party but it's definitely weird.

Still, don't imagine astronauts float through clouds of delicious smells like they're in some zero-gravity bakery. You only smell space after you trap those particles inside your spaceship. Outside, it's all vacuum and silence. Inside? It's chemistry's afterparty.

So, the next time you gaze up at the stars, think of this: the universe doesn't just look mysterious — it smells mysterious too. A strange mix of scorched metal, overcooked steak, and just a teasing note of cat wee. It's cosmic cologne, bottled by the universe. Smell that? It's the final frontier. Or, as some astronauts might call it, "Houston, we have a pong."

A quick reminder: My 'Stargazing' cruises on Port Macquarie's Port AdVenture are proving very popular. Come on our third 2 hour voyage this Friday June 13. Marvel at our slideshow 'Secrets of the Universe' then take a laser guided sky tour on the upper deck with the dolphins, finishing off with refreshments and our space 'trivia quiz.' See details on my webpage www.davidreneke.com

Elon Musk Declares That He's "Immediately" Cutting Off NASA's Access to Space

Billionaire Elon Musk has countered president Donald Trump's threat to "terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts," in spectacular fashion: by threatening to cut off the United States' access to outer space. "In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately," Musk tweeted.

But it didn't take him long to blink. A few hours later — and after the publication of this story — Musk reversed course, agreeing to "cool off" and saying that "we won't decommission Dragon." That's not surprising. As executives at SpaceX no doubt desperately tried to explain to him after the dustup, the company would be in terrible danger without all the money it gets from NASA.

And if Musk were to make good on his threat, the United States' space program could experience a setback of epic proportions. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft has quickly become the de facto method for NASA astronauts to travel to the International Space Station.

In other words, the threat could prevent American astronauts from visiting the space station — especially considering that the only other American option, Boeing's Starliner, is likely still years away from becoming a viable alternative, if ever. It was a significant escalation in a major falling out between the world's most powerful man  nd its richest one. The pair have been openly feuding about Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill," culminating in threats and personal attacks.

The collateral damage of the feud could be enormous, particularly for the US space program. Ars Technica's Eric Berger suggested that Trump ripping up Musk's government contracts "would both end the International Space Station and simultaneously provide no way to safely deorbit it." "This just gets better and better," Musk replied in a laughing emoji-laden tweet. "Go ahead, make my day…"

The news comes after the Trump administration abruptly pulled its nominee for the NASA administrator role, Jared Isaacman. Isaacman, who was hand-picked by Musk, has been to space twice with the help of SpaceX. The news greatly angered Musk, causing him to go on a crusade against Trump's tax bill. Musk's latest threats to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft could put the Trump administration and NASA in an extremely unfortunate position. Apart from Boeing's much-maligned Starliner, which has yet to complete a successful crewed mission to the ISS, the only alternative to send astronauts to the space station is Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

While the station's days are already numbered — NASA recently awarded SpaceX a contract to decommission the orbital lab in 2030 — continuing operations could prove extremely difficult without Dragon. But whether Musk will make good on his threat remains to be seen, especially considering the billionaire has a lengthy track record of making empty promises. Apart from vowing to decommission Dragon, Musk also attempted to smear Trump's name by arguing that he's "in the Epstein files."

"This is the real reason they have not been made public," he tweeted. "Have a nice day, DJT!" Musk is clearly out for blood, even officially calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced by his vice president JD Vance.  Who will emerge victorious is anybody's guess. If there's one certainty, it won't be NASA. The agency is expected to be hit by brutal cuts that could lay waste to dozens of space missions.

China's Rise in Space: A New Space Race is On

For decades, the United States led the charge into space. An American flag marked the first human steps on the Moon. NASA probes explored every planet. The U.S. was the clear leader. But now, in 2025, the American space program finds itself in a new kind of race—one it might not win.

Enter the Artemis program, NASA's bold plan to return to the Moon. Artemis II, set for September 2025, will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Artemis III, aiming for a 2026 landing, plans to put the first woman and person of colour on the lunar surface. Ambitious? Absolutely. But the timeline is slipping.

NASA's new strategy leans heavily on private industry. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others are building key components like landers and future space stations. But relying on billionaires brings risk. SpaceX's Starship, needed to land Artemis astronauts on the Moon, is still in development limbo. Add funding delays and political red tape, and the "when" of America's return becomes fuzzy.

Meanwhile, the International Space Station (ISS)—aging and expensive—is scheduled to retire by 2030. NASA hopes private space stations like Orbital Reef and Starlab will replace it, keeping U.S. interests in low-Earth orbit. It's a risky handoff, but one NASA is betting on.

And while America retools, China is charging ahead. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has made staggering progress. In 2020, it returned Moon samples. In 2021, it landed a rover on Mars—on the first try. In 2022, it completed Tiangong, its own modular space station. Beijing isn't just catching up; it's setting the pace.

This year, China's Chang'e-6 mission retrieved samples from the far side of the Moon—a world first. Next comes Chang'e-7 and 8, with plans to explore the lunar south pole and test resource extraction technology. All of this is paving the way for a crewed Chinese Moon landing by 2029, possibly even earlier.

Their aim? Not just to land, but to stay. China and Russia are collaborating on the International Lunar Research Station—a permanent Moon base expected by the early 2030s. While NASA negotiates budgets and contracts, China simply builds. The implications are clear. A Chinese flag on the Moon before Artemis III isn't just a PR win—it's a seismic shift in global space leadership. If China lands first, it could claim not only prestige but also the soft power that comes with leading humanity's next great leap.

To be fair, the U.S. still dominates in deep-space exploration, science, and technology. But that lead is narrowing. Artemis is more than a Moon mission—it's a test of resolve. Of commitment. Of identity.  Because space is no longer just about exploration. It's about position, power, and presence. And the next flag on the Moon may not have stars and stripes—it might have five golden ones.

The Sun Is Making SpaceX Satellites Fall From the Sky

The Sun is in a particularly active phase right now, and that's causing problems for SpaceX's Starlink satellites. Since 2020, hundreds of these satellites have been falling out of orbit – and a new study shows it's mostly due to the Sun's recent outbursts. A team led by NASA space physicist Denny Oliveira looked at 523 Starlink satellites that reentered Earth's atmosphere between 2020 and 2024. They discovered a clear pattern: the more active the Sun became, the more satellites dropped.

This is the most satellites we've ever had in low-Earth orbit at the same time – and the Sun is more active than expected in this 11-year solar cycle (known as Solar Cycle 25), which is now at its peak. That combination is giving researchers a unique opportunity to study how solar activity affects satellite orbits.

Why Does This Happen?

The Sun follows a regular 11-year cycle, where its activity rises and falls. At the peak, we see more sunspots, solar flares, and solar storms known as coronal mass ejections. These blast energetic particles into space – and when they hit Earth, they heat up the upper atmosphere. We don't feel this heat on the ground, but up in space, it causes the atmosphere to expand slightly. That expansion increases air resistance – or "drag" – on satellites in low-Earth orbit. If a satellite doesn't adjust its path, it slows down and begins to fall.

All satellites in low orbit are affected, but SpaceX has launched the most – 8,873 Starlink satellites since 2019, with 7,669 still active. So, they provide a good sample for study.

Falling Satellites: The Numbers

When Starlink began in 2019, the first few satellites started falling back in 2020. Just two reentered that year. In 2021, 78 came down; 99 in 2022, 88 in 2023. Then in 2024, that number jumped dramatically to 316. Interestingly, about 72% of these reentries happened during weaker solar conditions, not during major solar storms. Scientists think this is because the drag from solar activity builds up slowly over time. Satellites don't just drop all at once – their orbits gradually decay. However, when big storms do hit, they cause satellites to fall much faster.

Why It Matters

This study is important because we haven't had much detailed data on how solar activity affects satellites. Understanding how solar storms gradually pull satellites down could help engineers plan better ways to keep them in orbit longer. The researchers suggest that using precise data from Starlink satellites – including details like drag levels and atmospheric density – could improve our models for predicting and managing satellite movements during future solar storms. And with space becoming more crowded, preventing collisions and satellite failures is more important than ever. No one wants a chain-reaction crash in orbit (known as a Kessler cascade). In short, the Sun is getting feisty – and Starlink satellites are feeling it.

Strange Signals from Space: A Cosmic Mystery Unlike Anything We've Seen Before

Something weird is happening out there—and astronomers are puzzled. They've detected strange signals coming from a distant object in space that defies everything we thought we knew. It's not a star, it's not a planet, and it's definitely not behaving like anything we've encountered before. Whatever it is, it's breaking the rules.

The mystery began when radio telescopes picked up an unusual signal deep within our Milky Way galaxy. The source blinked on… then off… then vanished—only to reappear again later. But unlike a lighthouse with a steady rhythm or a random burst of space noise, this thing follows no predictable pattern. The pulses can last several minutes, then go completely silent, only to return unexpectedly. It's weird, it's inconsistent, and it has scientists scratching their heads.

At first, the team thought it might be a pulsar—a dense, spinning neutron star that sends out regular beams of radio waves. But this object is too slow and too erratic to fit that mold. Pulsars are metronomic; this thing is more like a confused drummer at a jazz club.

So what is it? Some believe it might be a new type of neutron star—perhaps one that flips between active and silent states. Others think it could be a "magnetar," a highly magnetic star known to release the occasional burst of radio energy. But even magnetars have their limits, and this object is testing them.

And then there's the fun theory—the one that always gets trotted out when things get strange: aliens. Could it be an artificial signal? A long-lost beacon from an ancient civilisation drifting through space? Probably not. Scientists are quick to stress that this is highly unlikely. But in the absence of a solid explanation, the imagination tends to wander.

Still, the most plausible explanation is that we've stumbled across a natural phenomenon that we simply haven't seen before. Space is vast, wild, and full of surprises, and discoveries like this remind us how little we truly understand.

One of the astronomers involved put it perfectly: "It's just sitting there, doing things it shouldn't be doing." And that's what makes it so exciting. Whatever this object is, it may help us better understand how stars evolve, how radio waves behave across interstellar distances, or even reveal a completely new class of cosmic objects.

Until then, scientists are keeping their telescopes trained on it. More observations are underway, and new data is being gathered. For now, the object remains a cosmic mystery, a blinking enigma in the dark that challenges everything we thought we knew.

In a universe with billions of stars, swirling galaxies, and enough empty space to fit our imaginations ten times over, it's comforting—and a little thrilling—to know that there are still secrets waiting to be uncovered. And just maybe, out there in the great unknown, something—or someone—is trying to get our attention.

Platinum on the Moon: A Trillion-Dollar Prospect

Recent scientific studies suggest that the Moon may contain vast quantities of platinum group metals (PGMs)—including platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and others. The total estimated value of these materials could exceed $1 trillion.

These metals likely arrived on the Moon's surface via ancient asteroid impacts. Unlike Earth, where tectonic activity and erosion bury or disperse such elements, the Moon's lack of atmosphere and geologic activity means these metals have remained close to the surface and could be more accessible.

An estimated 30 million kilograms of PGMs could be scattered across the Moon—vastly more than the roughly 600,000 kilograms mined on Earth each year.

This has spurred growing interest in lunar mining, especially as Earth's supply of these metals becomes harder and more expensive to extract. The Moon's relatively stable surface and proximity to Earth make it a more practical target than distant asteroids.

However, significant technical hurdles remain. Mining on the Moon involves challenges like low gravity, lack of water, extreme temperatures, and the need for remote or robotic operations. Engineers are currently developing specialized robotic systems to excavate and process lunar soil, or regolith.

There are also major legal and ethical questions. International treaties currently prevent any nation from claiming ownership of the Moon or its resources, and there's no universally agreed-upon framework for regulating commercial lunar mining. Future missions will need to navigate not only the harsh environment but also complex political and scientific concerns.

In summary, while the Moon may hold a fortune in platinum and related metals, unlocking it will require solving some of the biggest challenges in engineering, economics, and space law.

From Cat Urine to Gunpowder: The Weird and Wonderful Whiffs of Outer Space

You might imagine space as a vast, silent vacuum — black, barren, and scentless. But ask any astronaut who's taken off a helmet after a spacewalk, and they'll tell you: space stinks. Not in a bad way. Not exactly. But it does have a smell. A very strange one.

Once astronauts return to the airlock and remove their suits, they report an unusual odor clinging to their gear. It's been described as burnt steak, hot metal, welding fumes, and, rather memorably, spent gunpowder. Others have compared it to ozone, or even cat urine. Yes — cat urine.

So, what's going on here? After all, space itself is a vacuum — technically, it shouldn't have any smell at all. But the odd aroma doesn't come from sniffing the void. It's what happens when high-energy particles, atoms, and molecules in space interact with oxygen inside the spacecraft. These particles, bombarded by solar winds and cosmic radiation, become "excited" — not in the party sense, but chemically. When astronauts open their airlock, these zapped particles cling to their suits and mix with the air inside. Voilà: Eau de Space.

There's science behind the stink. When molecules absorb radiation in space, they undergo a process called oxidation when they hit the oxygen-rich air of a spacecraft. This releases various byproducts — some of which have very distinctive smells. Think about the way metal smells after a lightning strike or how a soldering iron smells on a circuit board. Now crank that up with cosmic rays, solar particles, and vacuum-induced weirdness, and you're getting closer.

NASA took the idea seriously enough to commission a chemist to recreate the scent. Why? Because they needed to train astronauts for the real experience. Floating in orbit is disorienting enough — no one needs to be caught off guard by the smell of fried brake pads or an aggressive whiff of ammonia mid-mission.

The Moon, too, has a smell. Apollo astronauts said lunar dust that stuck to their suits and boots gave off a distinct scent once back in the lander — often described as burnt gunpowder. Curiously, when they brought Moon dust back to Earth, it lost its smell. That's because the compounds responsible only reacted when exposed to oxygen for the first time.

And it's not just Earth's astronauts making nasal notes. Scientists analyzing the chemical signatures of deep-space clouds — using telescopes and spectroscopy — have found complex organic compounds floating between the stars. Some of these are the very same molecules found in burnt toast, rum, raspberries, and yes, the ammonia-like stench of feline urine. One interstellar cloud even contains ethyl formate, which smells like rum and raspberries. Space, it turns out, is full of invisible aromas.

But before you imagine astronauts floating through a cocktail of gourmet scents, remember: most of this only becomes noticeable once it's dragged into a pressurized cabin. Still, it's fascinating to think the cosmos isn't entirely silent and scentless — it has a kind of chemical personality.

So, next time you look up at the night sky, remember this: among the wonders of the universe — stars, galaxies, black holes — there's also the lingering perfume of space: a blend of burning metal, scorched steak, a hint of ammonia, and just a whisper of the cosmos's strange chemistry. Call it the celestial stink — Earth's final frontier never smelled so odd.

Lunar Gold Rush: Can We Really Build a Thriving Economy on the Moon?

In the dead silence of the Moon's barren plains, a new kind of frontier whispers to Earth: not of conquest, but of commerce. The question now buzzing in boardrooms, laboratories, and space agencies alike is this — Can we actually build a thriving economy on and around the Moon? The answer is no longer science fiction. It's on the launchpad.

Let's be clear: this isn't about building white picket fences in lunar dust or selling timeshares in Mare Imbrium. This is industrial revolution 2.0 — off-planet. The concept of a Moon economy hinges on three pillars: infrastructure, exploitation of resources, and sustainable habitation. All three are audaciously difficult. All three are technically possible.

First, Infrastructure: Laying the Groundwork

You can't have a lunar economy without a lunar base — and you can't have a base without a plan to get there and stay. NASA's Artemis program aims to land humans back on the Moon and build a permanent station called the Artemis Base Camp, likely at the south pole where water ice lurks in eternal shadow. China and Russia have a similar vision with the planned International Lunar Research Station.

These aren't sci-fi domes with Starbucks and Wi-Fi. They'll be modular, Spartan outposts with radiation shielding made of lunar regolith (Moon dirt), using 3D printers and robotic builders already in prototype. Power? Solar arrays stretching across ridges. Communications? NASA's Lunar Gateway, a space station orbiting the Moon, will provide that link — a telecom tower in the void.

Next, Resources: Digging Into Lunar Wealth

Here's where the economy gets interesting. The Moon is rich — not in gold, but in helium-3, a rare isotope potentially useful for future fusion energy. There's also iron, titanium, and those aforementioned water ice deposits — vital for drinking, growing food, and cracking into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. In essence, water becomes lunar gasoline.

A thriving lunar economy might begin with fuel depots. If rockets can refuel in space rather than carry all their fuel from Earth, the cost of space missions plummets. That's why companies like Astrobotic, ispace, and Intuitive Machines are racing to deliver payloads to the Moon — to test tech, stake territory, and prove commercial viability.

Living and Working There: No Moonwalk in the Park

Now, picture life on the Moon. You work in six-day stretches, bunk in pressurized habitats, eat hydroponic kale, and sleep under two feet of regolith shielding you from cosmic radiation. Temperatures swing from -170°C at night to 120°C during the day. One mistake — a torn glove, a failed oxygen valve — and you're one sigh away from disaster.

Yet the Moon offers perks. Its low gravity (1/6th of Earth's) makes construction easier and movement more efficient. Robots can do the heavy lifting, humans the problem-solving. AI systems will run much of the show, alerting crews to danger or inefficiency. And with every success, more investors on Earth will loosen their purse strings.

But Let's Talk Practicality and Danger

Nothing is easy on the Moon. Every kilo of cargo costs thousands to launch. Micrometeorites can pierce metal. Dust is electrostatically charged and clingy — it fouled Apollo suits and could wreck machinery over time. And then there's the psychological toll. Long stays in confined, gray habitats will strain even the toughest pioneers.

Also, who owns what? The 1967 Outer Space Treaty forbids any nation from claiming the Moon — but doesn't stop companies from profiting. The lack of clear space property law could either spark a new kind of Cold War or an interplanetary gold rush.

The Verdict: Possible, Probable, Imminent?

So, can we build a Moon economy? Yes. Thriving? Not yet — but the scaffolding is in place. The Moon is no longer a distant dream but a looming destination. As infrastructure is laid, missions multiply, and technology evolves, commerce will follow — slowly, stubbornly, and spectacularly.

What began with flags and footprints may end with factories and financial markets. And if humanity can learn to live, work, and trade on the Moon, the stars — quite literally — are the limit.

Remember, the starlight you see coming from all those constellations tonight left there hundreds, and in most cases thousands of years ago, and it's just arriving now! Remember, when you stargaze, you're looking back in time. Your telescope is your time machine, coupled with imagination it can take you anywhere!

If you're new to astronomy the hardest part is learning all those stars. Relax! It's a lot easier than you think, but you won't do it sitting inside at your keyboard and monitor. Some people say that we spend too much time indoors and not enough time observing the things around us, like the moon, stars and planets.

But what if your screen, in this case your Smartphone or tablet, can actually help you appreciate the skies more? Well they can and they're amazingly simple to use! Here's some of my favorite free apps. 'Sky View' will identify almost everything above your head at night and it's fantastic! Try 'The Moon' for your lunar viewing, then download an accurate new Aussie app 'ISS Flyover' to catch the space station passing over for a week ahead. It's a small charge but worth it.

This one is a knockout. On your tablet or laptop download an app called 'Star Chart.' It puts a virtual planetarium right in your pocket. It uses state of the art GPS technology that will show you the current location of every star and planet visible from Earth. Cool huh?

For even more realistic night sky experiences install 'Stellarium' on your laptop or iPad. I'm not going to spoil the surprise, just do it. It's free and has so much to offer you will be surprised. An alternative is the popular program 'Celestia.' A world of creative wonder awaits you.

Planets, stars, and star patterns have shaped our lives. Remember standing out in your backyard as a kid trying to count 'em all? I did. This fascination with the stars and the night sky extends to almost all indigenous cultures throughout the world. Hey, ever wondered if you can use your phone as an Astro-camera, well you can!

With most smartphones today you can photograph your night sky without needing a connected computer or much post-processing. Plus, the images you capture can be immediately shared with family and friends and posted on social media. For the best results, you should attach your phone to a camera tripod to hold it steady. Don't laugh, I've even taped mine or used Blu-Tac!

Smartphone astrophotography lets you easily record a snapshot of what you see through your telescope as well. To take any kind of image of the night sky means a long exposure, which means stability. If you're seriously keen, I recommend buying the Celestron NexYZ adapter. You can then easily start taking photos of lunar eclipses, lunar craters, planets, the phases of the Moon.

The app 'NightCap Camera' ranks highly on the list of the best night vision camera apps. With it, you can take amazing low light and night photos. All you need to do is just hold steady and tap the shutter. Simple huh!

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'ASTRO DAVE' RENEKE - A Personal Perspective

I've often been asked what I do, where I've been and what sort of activities I've engaged in throughout my 50 years involvement in astronomy and space. Here is an interview i did with Delving with Des Kennedy on Rhema 99.9 recently. 

David Reneke, a highly regarded Australian amateur astronomer and lecturer with over 50 years of experience, has established himself as a prominent figure in the field of astronomy. With affiliations to leading global astronomical institutions, 

David serves as the Editor for Australia's Astro-Space News Magazine and has previously held key editorial roles with Sky & Space Magazine and Australasian Science magazine. 

His extensive background includes teaching astronomy at the college level, being a featured speaker at astronomy conventions across Australia, and contributing as a science correspondent for both ABC and commercial radio stations. David's weekly radio interviews, reaching around 3 million listeners, cover the latest developments in astronomy and space exploration.

As a media personality, David's presence extends to regional, national, and international TV, with appearances on prominent platforms such as Good Morning America, American MSNBC news, the BBC, and Sky News in Australia. His own radio program has earned him major Australasian awards for outstanding service.

David is recognized for his engaging and unique style of presenting astronomy and space discovery, having entertained and educated large audiences throughout Australia. In addition to his presentations, he produces educational materials for beginners and runs a popular radio program in Hastings, NSW, with a substantial following and multiple awards for his radio presentations.

In 2004, David initiated the 'Astronomy Outreach' program, touring primary and secondary schools in NSW to provide an interactive astronomy and space education experience. Sponsored by Tasco Australia, Austar, and Discovery Science channel, the program donated telescopes and grants to schools during a special tour in 2009, contributing to the promotion of astronomy education in Australia. BELOW Is the recorded interview  

'Astro Dave' Is Radio-Active 

Heard On DOZENS Of Stations Weekly - CLICK for past interviews