The life of ‘Human Search Engine’ Cicely M. Botley, exploring the mineralogy of the Moon, a comparison of standard and ED refractors and a report on signs of fresh volcanism on Venus – plus much more!

A mystery in the clouds of Venus, the final part of our introduction to spectroscopy, and Patrick Moore’s appearances in the Journal over the years. Plus, the answers to the fiendish BAA Christmas Quiz!

Winter projects for both beginners and more experienced observers abound in this issue. Plus, the life of the Revd George Fisher, an update from the Jupiter Section, and the fiendish BAA Christmas Quiz.

How to observe meteors using the UK’s new radio beacon and a guide to the BAA’s latest exoplanet project, plus news of a curious supernova and a tour of some little-known jewels of the autumn sky.

Tips on observing Uranus as the ice giant nears opposition, an introduction to spectroscopy, insights into a remarkable double-star system and BAA observations of six bright northerly novae.

Remembering an extraordinary couple who were instrumental to the BAA’s founding, a guide to observing banded lunar craters, and a special interview with Alan W. Heath, who shares highlights from his influential observing career.

The beautiful comet gracing our cover, C/2021 A1, is the subject of a special report by the Comet Section Director. Also in this issue: cataloguing historical aurora sightings, amateur investigations of lunar geology, and news from across the astronomical community.

Extraordinary full-colour images of Jupiter taken in 1949. Plus, an amateur double-star discovery and answers to Marie-Louise Archer’s fiendish Christmas Quiz

The ghost mountains of Venus feature in the final paper by the late Richard Baum, alongside the 2021 BAA Christmas Quiz, and how to get involved in observing exoplanets

This icy issue explores astronomy from Antarctica and how to observe the ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, this autumn. Plus, the annual Report of Council