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Results from the 2012 June solar transit of Venus are illustrated and discussed, and make an interesting comparison with our recent report on the 2016 transit of Mercury. As in previous years, observers were able to time the contacts, to see the ‘Black Drop’ effect (caused by inadequate resolution, but often enhanced by turbulence) and to record the ring of light around the unilluminated limb at both ingress and egress. This will be the last transit of Venus until 2117 Dec 11, unless we include the event of 2020 Jun 3, when the planet will be silhouetted against the solar corona.

In Part II we discuss white clouds and the polar regions. The equatorial cloud band (ECB) was well observed from Ls= 001° onward. The behaviour of the orographic clouds over the great volcanoes was seasonally normal, in the absence of any large dust disturbance. We saw the Tharsis orographics from Ls= 011°, and the Olympus Mons orographic from Ls= 019°. As with the ECB, observations did not continue late enough to establish their seasonal decline. The 2009-’10 N. polar cap recession was followed in detail nearly as far as the summer remnant stage.

This report describes and analyses the observations of the brighter or more interesting comets discovered or at perihelion during 2012, concentrating on those with visual observations. Magnitude parameters are given for all comets with observations. Any evolution in the magnitude parameters of those periodic comets with multiple returns is discussed. Additional information on the comets discussed here and on other comets seen or at perihelion during the year may be found on the Section visual observations web pages.

This report describes the observations of Saturn made by Saturn Section members during the 2008/2009 apparition. During this apparition, the rings were edge-on to the Sun and Earth on 2009 Aug 11 and Sep 4 respectively

Evidence is presented of a previously unreported naked-eye sunspot observation in 1604. A report from a 17th century Hungarian history is analysed and possible alternative interpretations are discussed. Further evidence of high solar activity at the time is briefly examined.

This report summarises over 8,000 observations by 149 observers between 2009 March and 2010 September, covering martian northern late autumn to winter, spring and early summer (Ls= 232-156°). Part I discusses dust storms and albedo features.

Axel Firsoff was one of the most controversial theorists and letter writers in the BAA’s history, submitting huge amounts of correspondence to the Journal between 1956 and 1981 and serving on the Committee of the Terrestrial Planets Section from 1979 to 1981. He was also a successful author, writing more than 20 books from 1942 until his death. In addition, Firsoff was a skilful artist, an accomplished skier, a lunar and planetary observer and an early pioneer in the use of colour filters.