Dark matter galaxy discovered
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy composed almost entirely of Dark Matter. The galaxy -- Dragonfly 44 – is about 70 thousand light years wide and has about the same mass as our own Milky Way galaxy -- but with far fewer stars – and with some 99.99 percent of its mass composed of dark matter.
 
New study of time symmetry
A new theory to explain why the universe is symmetrical – while time appears to be asymmetrical. The research examines a mysterious effect -- called 'T violation' -- a violation of time reversal symmetry -- which could be the origin of time evolution and conservation laws.
 
Mystery SETI Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence signal detected
Astronomers are trying to determine the cause of a mysterious signal picked up by Russian scientists involved in the SETI Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. The signal was detected by scientists with the RATAN-600 observatory in Russia.
 
Juno soars over the Jovian cloud tops
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has successfully completed its closest approach to the swirling cream and tan cloud tops of the solar system’s largest planet Jupiter. Saturday morning’s flyby was the closest planned approach during the mission with the spacecraft flying just 4200 kilometres above the Jovian clouds at 208,000 kilometres per hour.

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*Earth sized planet discovered in the habitable zone of our nearest neighbouring star
Astronomers have now confirmed the discovery of an Earth sized planet orbiting in the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri – our nearest neighbouring star system. As we reported a week ago on SpaceTime -- the newly detected planet named Proxima B is about 1.3 times the mass of the Earth and is orbiting in its host star’s habitable zone – temperatures would allow liquid water to exist on the surface of a terrestrial or rocky planet.  

*Seasonal streaks on Mars may not be water after all
Seasonal dark streaks on Mars known as Recurring Slope Lineae which have become one of the hottest topics in interplanetary research don't hold much water after all -- according to new data from NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft which is orbiting the red planet. The new Mars Odyssey results are based on ground temperature readings measured through infrared imaging by the spacecraft's Thermal Emission Imaging System - THEMIS.  

*Dwarf planet Ceres could have lots of water ice filled craters
Scientists have identified permanently shadowed regions on the dwarf planet Ceres which are cold enough to trap water ice for a billion years. The new findings suggest that the giant asteroid has the right conditions for the accumulation of water ice deposits which could still exist there today.

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Scientists see a classical nova awaken from hibernation
Astronomers have just had their first complete look at an exploding star called a Nova.
Novae are the most frequent and among the brightest type of stellar explosions known. 

Cassini Finds Flooded Canyons on Titan
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found deep, steep-sided canyons on Saturn's moon Titan that are flooded with liquid hydrocarbons. The findings represent the first direct evidence of the presence of liquid-filled channels on Titan, as well as the first observation of canyons hundreds of metres deep. 

More evidence of ancient Martian lakes discovered in Gale Crater
A new study has found that mineral veins found in Gale Crater were formed by the evaporation of ancient Martian lakes. The discovery is based on a study of the mineralogy of veins that were paths for groundwater in mudstones found at Yellowknife Bay in Gale Crater by NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover. 

Red Dragon update
The space flight community is a buzz with rumours that SpaceX boss Elon Musk will announce the company’s long term plans for the exploration of the red planet Mars at next month’s International Astronautical Congress in Mexico. SpaceX has already announced details of its Red Dragon project to send a modified Dragon V2 capsule to land on Mars in 2018. 

New satellite launched to spy on other satellites and track space debris
A Delta IV rocket has successfully blasted into orbit carrying two United States Air Force Space Command spy satellites designed to study other satellites and to track space debris. As well as monitoring other spacecraft, the United States Air Force Space Command is currently tracking over 23,000 pieces of orbiting debris. 

China launches first quantum encrypted satellite
China has launched its new quantum satellite aboard a Long March 2D rocket. The 500 kilogram Quantum Science telecommunications Satellite – called Mozi -- after an ancient Chinese philosopher and scientist -- is designed to test quantum entanglement from a 600 kilometre high orbit -- sending messages using quantum encrypted keys between ground stations in China and Europe. 

Long March 4C launches Gaofen-3 Earth Observation Satellite
A Chinese Long March 4 C rocket has blasted into orbit carrying the new Gaofen-3 surveillance satellite. The spy satellite flight comes amid growing tensions over Beijing’s annexation of parts of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

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Rumours of a habitable zone planet detected around our nearest neighbouring star system
There are growing rumours claiming the detection of a terrestrial Earth like planet within the habitable zone of our nearest neighbouring star system Proxima Centauri. A report in Germany’s respected Der Spiegel news magazine claims the discovery was made by astronomers with the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla telescope in Chile.  

Scientists use a simulated black hole to demonstrate Hawking radiation
A scientist using a simulated black hole may just have demonstrated existence of Hawking radiation – the hypothesis claiming black holes evaporate over time. The research could open a window linking Albert Einstein’s General Relativity Theory with Quantum Mechanics – finally pointing the way to quantum gravity.  

Physicists confirm possible discovery of fifth force of nature
Earlier this year on SpaceTime we reported the possible detection of a previously unknown fifth fundamental force in nature The key is a potential new sub-atomic particle called the protophobic X boson which has about thirty times the mass of an electron.  

JCSAT16 launched on SpaceX rocket.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully launched a new telecommunications satellite into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force base in Florida. The 70 metre tall rocket lit up partly cloudy night skies as it blasted off Space Launch complex 40.

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Strange new outer solar system body defies scientific explanation
Astronomers have just detected a new trans Neptunian object in the outer rim of the solar system on a strange highly unusual orbit. The discovery indicates the newly found object -- nicknamed Niku – has a retrograde and highly inclined orbit around the Sun.  

More evidence supporting the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system
Two new studies claim our solar system’s tilt could be explained by the existence of a ninth planet out beyond Neptune. The new research uses computer models to show how a hypothetical ninth planet of a specific mass and orbit would influence orbital plane or ecliptic of the solar system – causing it to tilt by six degrees in comparison to the Sun’s equator. 

Neutrino’s offer new clues into why we live a matter rather than antimatter universe
A new study of elemental sub atomic particles called neutrinos has provided scientists with new insights into why the universe is made up of more matter than antimatter. 

No evidence for the existence of a fourth kind of neutrino – the sterile neutrino
Meanwhile, efforts to find a fourth type or flavor of neutrino -- known as the sterile neutrino -- have failed to identify the long hypothesized particle. If discovered, the sterile neutrino could have helped resolve the long standing mystery of the origin of dark matter as well as the matter/antimatter asymmetry in the universe.  

SkyWatch
We check out the August night skies with Jonathan Nally from Australian Sky and Telescope Magazine.

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Alien megastructure star still a mystery
Follow up observations of a weird erratically flickering and dimming star has failed to find an explanation for the strange stellar behaviour.
The star named KIC 8462852 is so unusual -- one scientist even suggested it could be our first sign of a hypothetical alien megastructure called a Dyson Sphere. 

The world’s first interplanetary mining mission
It’s not the Nostromo made famous in the movie Alien, but the world’s first commercial interplanetary mining mission will launch a precursor flight next year before venturing off in to deep space to mine a near Earth asteroid. 

Australia changing its address
Australia is about to change its address. Federal government hasn’t updated the continent’s coordinate system since 1994.causing existing GPS navigation systems to be off by about one and a half metres. 

New project to study dark energy
The United States has given final approval for a new project to study dark energy – a mysterious force whose properties will determine the ultimate fate of the universe. The 3-D sky-mapping project called the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument or DESI will measure the light of millions of galaxies. 

Revolutionary Wifi invention selected for World in 100 Objects Exhibition
A revolutionary 1992 Australian invention that led to Wi-Fi has been chosen by the National Museum of Australia to be part of the A History of the World in 100 Objects exhibition, opening in Canberra next month. The exhibition will showcase items from around the globe to explore human history, sourcing the oldest objects from the British Museum's collection and incorporating those from the present day. 

The possibility of creating a new type of photon
New research suggests that it is possible to create a new form of light by binding a photon to a single electron and combining the properties of both. The combined photon electron would have properties that could lead to circuits that work with packages of photons instead of electrons.

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A key characteristic of life discovered in space for the first time 
Scientists have discovered the first molecule in space that has a key attribute associated with life -- ‘handedness’ or chirality. 
The finding is expected to help researchers solve one of the greatest mysteries in biology -- the origin of homochirality -- and offer insights into what we can expect from life throughout the universe. 

New ideas on the nature of black holes
A team of scientists have developed a new way of looking at the physics of black holes. The hypothesis suggests that matter might in fact survive its foray into these space objects and come out the other side.
 
The most dangerous threat to humanity to provide the best meteor shower in almost 20 years
This year’s Perseids meteor shower is set for its best show in nearly 20 years. Around 150 meteors an hour expected to delight sky watchers at its peak on the nights of August 11, 12 and 13 depending on which hemisphere you’re in. But the Perseids come with a warning… 

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory suffers anomaly
NASA mission managers are working to restore systems aboard the agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft following a major anomaly which shut down its science instruments. The spacecraft failed to return to science mode after observing a Lunar transit of the Sun. 

Billion dollar satellite fails to reach intended orbit
The US Navy says the main engine aboard its new MUOS 5 communications satellite has failed – preventing the billion dollar spacecraft reaching its geostationary orbit. The Navy are now looking at ways to salvage the satellite which was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida on June 24. 
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First private company set to fly to the Moon next year
The United States government has given approval for a private company to the launch a mission to land on the Moon next year. Moon Express -- plans to use a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle to fly its MX-1 lander to the lunar surface.

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Giant stellar void discovered in the heart of the Milky Way 
Astronomers have discovered a huge region around the centre of our galaxy which is devoid of young stars. The findings provide new insights into the evolution of the Milky Way. 

Mapping exotic matter inside neutron stars
Scientists have opened a new window into the mystery of what lies inside neutron stars.  Ultimately, the research may answer the question, whether neutron stars are composed solely of ordinary atomic nuclei, or if they contain more exotic dense de-confined quark matter. 

Australian satellites being space tested prior to launch
Researchers from around Australia have begun testing satellites at the Australian National University Mount Stromlo space testing facilities ahead of a mass satellite launch from the International Space Station later this year. They will be launched into space as part of the European Union’s QB50 launch of 50 satellites. 
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Dream Chaser space plane ready for more flight tests
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser space plane is being shipped to California for another round of flight tests. Dream Chaser was designed to provide NASA with a new reusable crew transportation system to take up to seven crew members at a time to and from the International Space Station -- following the premature mothballing of the Space Shuttle fleet in 2011.

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​X marks the spot at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy
New evidence suggests there’s an enormous X-shaped structure made of stars within the central bulge of the Milky Way Galaxy.
The discovery helps scientists better understand how the Milky Way was formed and how it’s evolved ever since.  
New questions about how gullies are formed on Mars
A new study claims liquid water flowing over the surface of Mars isn’t responsible for the recent formation of gullies on the red planet. The new findings are based on data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft which shows no mineralogical evidence for abundant liquid water or its by-products associated with the gullies. 
Huge fire ball was space junk
A huge fireball seen burning up in the night skies over Las Vegas was most likely Chinese space junk rather than a meteor. Large regions of California, Nevada, and Utah were treated to the spectacular light show last week when the giant fireball streaked across the sky. 
Five Years Post-Launch, Juno Is at a Turning Point
Five years after departing Earth, and a month after slipping into orbit around Jupiter, NASA's Juno spacecraft has reached the turning point on its highly elliptical orbit around the solar system’s largest planet. On July 31 Juno reached the farthest point in its orbit around Jupiter. 
NASA Orders Second SpaceX Crew Mission to International Space Station
NASA has taken another step in its efforts to return human space flight to American soil – ordering a second post-certification mission for the SpaceX’s Dragon V2 capsule and Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The order of a second crew rotation mission from SpaceX, paired with the two ordered from Boeing CST100 starliner will help ensure reliable crew rotation flights from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to the International Space Station as well as longer duration deep space missions using Orion capsules on deep space missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. 
First vinyl record played in near space
Humans have achieved another important first – the playing of a vinyl record on a turntable at the very edge of space. With the album on the turntable and the record player set on repeat – the gondola was sent aloft on a high-altitude balloon to a height of 28,000 metres – higher than the cruising altitude of a U2 spy plane.  
New generation top secret spy satellite launched
A new top secret spy satellite has been launched amid a curtain of secrecy for the National Reconnaissance Office. The clandestine mission is believed to have placed a new-generation Quasar data-relay satellite into an inclined geosynchronous orbit 35,888 kilometres above the Earth.