An RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting organized by Malcolm Druett and Ben Snow on 13 November 2020 drew a broad international audience to explore a tricky layer of the Sun

Jacqueline Mitton examines one strand in the life and research of the pioneering astronomer

A digest of some of the big stories from the past two months

Sumedh Anathpindika reviews some recent results that shed new light on the dynamical evolution of giant molecular clouds and discusses the impact of ambient environment on their ability to form stars

An influential leader in the seismological community, Lay was awarded this year's geophysics Gold Medal for his outstanding work in seismological analysis

Ed Cliver, Lyndsay Fletcher and Hugh Hudson are looking for a photograph of Richard Carrington. Can you help?

Robert Massey ponders the potential post-pandemic world for those working in astronomy and geophysics, following an online meeting in January

Anna Ridley describes a new exhibition at Old Government House, Sydney, that uses documents from the Royal Astronomical Society library and archive – and technology – to help tell the story of scientific endeavour in colonial New South Wales

Claire Davies recounts a successful outreach project based on Saturn and Jupiter's 2020 conjunction, a celebration of closeness in a year dominated by distancing

Sue Bowler remembers the Guernsey-born astronomer

Richard Ellis recalls the life of the eminent cosmic-ray physicist

Leslie Morrison and Catherine Hohenkerk consider the future direction of the leap second

AbstractA digest of some of the big stories from the past two months

AbstractAlastair Gunn looks back at the scientific and cultural legacy of an iconic instrument: the 305m Arecibo radio telescope

AbstractJoanna K Barstow explores spectroscopic observations of transiting exoplanets, modelling their atmospheric clouds, and the forthcoming era of hot exoplanet research with the James Webb Space Telescope

AbstractEach year the RAS recognizes outstanding achievement in astronomy and geophysics by the award of medals and prizes, celebrating scientists who have earned the respect and admiration of their peers

AbstractDespite travel restrictions, the geologist has been looking forward to exploring the surface of Mars this year with NASA's latest lander

AbstractShami Chatterjee reviews fast radio bursts, focusing on the rapid recent progress in observations of these enigmatic events, our understanding of their central engines, and their use as probes of the intergalactic medium

AbstractAnnie Hogan explains how the RAS Bicentennial Quilt has progressed through lockdown

AbstractThe RAS Early Career Network announces the winners of its 2020 poster exhibition

AbstractKerri Donaldson Hanna summarizes what the much-anticipated sampling of asteroid Bennu has already told us about this primitive yet complex body

AbstractHelen Mason and Helen Schell explain how the SunSpaceArt outreach programme flourished in 2020, bringing art and science together for pupils and teachers

AbstractEditor Sue Bowler looks back – briefly – at astronomy and geophysics a quarter of a century ago

Brian Kennett shows what geophysics can reveal about the lithosphere of Australia.

Iwan Williams examines the surprising range of astronomical names given to steam locomotives of the 19th century.

A digest of some of the big stories from the past two months

Kim Clube, editorial office manager, reviews the changing faces of the RAS journals.

Robert Massey argues that everything – even astronomy and geophysics – is political.

The former physics teacher, now studying martian meteorites at Glasgow, explains why early-career scientists need support now more than ever. Interview by Paul Johnson.

All articles published this year, searchable by author and type

Gene Byrd and Mauri Valtonen describe how radio astronomy helped prove the existence of dark matter.

Sue Bowler finds some positive outcomes from 2020 for RAS 200 outreach projects.

Hannah Dalgleish examines ways in which astronomy can help to forge a sustainable future for life on Earth.

João Magueijo and John Webb remember the athlete, wide-ranging cosmologist, prolific author and walking encyclopedia.

Fifty years since the first touchdown on Venus, researchers have potentially detected a biosignature in its atmosphere. Sue Bowler thinks we are overdue for another trip to our twin planet.

Ryan French and colleagues discuss their Hinode/EIS outreach work and the resulting resources available for A-level classes.

From Richard Schilizzi

Ian Glass looks back at the origins of telescopic observing in South Africa, 200 years ago.

The PhD student discusses how moving to China helped her rediscover her passion for science, the attraction of the ice giants, and the importance of campaigning for equality and diversity. Interview by Paul Johnson.

Rebecca Colquhoun and Ben Fernando discuss their student-led audit of ethnic minorities and the geosciences

A digest of some of the big stories from the past two months

Douglas Gough, Michael Proctor and Steven Tobias remember the South African-born astrophysicist and mathematician, a former president of the RAS

Sue Bowler summarizes the RAS Community Session 2020, usually part of the National Astronomy Meeting, but this year a successful stand-alone – and virtual – event.

National Astronomy Week is coming and Lucinda Offer and Robin Scagell want you to get ready.

Laura Driessen reviews the history of radio transient astronomy, details current investigations of a wide range of radio transients with Square Kilometre Array pathfinder and precursor instruments, and discusses what the SKA will reveal about the changing radio sky.

Leigh N Fletcher describes the international effort to launch ambitious new missions to the distant ice giants Uranus and Neptune, to provide the first comprehensive exploration of these “missing links” in our solar system.

Mark Stenhoff looks back at the life of US astronomer Frank Kameny (1925–2011), whose career-ending dismissal led to a life of gay rights activism, and explores what his legacy means for LGBTQ+ scientists today.

Sue Bowler explores the life and legacy of Sam Okoye, radio astronomer and early advocate of using astronomy for development.

The professor of helioseismology discusses her distinguished career and life during lockdown. Interview by Paul Johnson.

Ritesh Singh and Douglas Duhaime have made an open-source web simulation to study 3D distribution of galaxies in the universe out to < 200 Mpc – and they want you to use it.

Steven Phillipps looks at the fate of some RAS Fellows in the Great War.

Anton Ziolkowski and fellow organizers look back at the British Seismology Meeting 2019, which discussed events of all scales as well as new hardware and software techniques.

A digest of some of the big stories from the past two months

Manuel Scherf, Gražina Tautvaišienė, Ricardo Hueso and Anita Heward outline the organization and goals of a new global collaboration to enhance planetary research: the Europlanet Telescope Network.

Sue Bowler rereads a classic 1971 paper on plate tectonics by Dan McKenzie and John Sclater, which highlights the geophysical heritage of the RAS.