Includes cuttings on astronomy in general, black holes, science funding cuts, the search for water on Mars, quasars, Venus, problems with the Hubble Space Telescope, the descent of Salyut 7, the science ‘brain drain’, the formation of the Universe, Halley’s Comet, the discovery of the brightest object in the Universe, postage stamps issued to honour Cambridge scientists, the sale of Herstmonceux castle, causes for the drop in the ozone level, a solar eclipse, El Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma, Asteroid 1986 DA, the Giotto probe, the development of GPS, listening for signs of intelligent life, the Perseids, claims that Thomas Digges was the inventor of the telescope, etc. Also includes an obituary of Michael Penston, a press release on the HIPPARCHOS satellite, and a typed Christmas message from SERC to staff re. cutbacks.