14

The 2012 Transit of Venus, Paul Deans
Only six Venus transits have ever been observed; the one in 2012 will be the 7th. Discover a little transit history and learn how to safely observe this upcoming historical event.

22

A Clever Way to Measure Distances to Galaxies, Joseph B. Jensen
Astronomers have developed a technique that measures the average brightness of thousands of red giant stars in a far-off galaxy to determine its distance.

27

STEM at the College and University Level, Michael G. Gibbs
Once students are inspired toward STEM in elementary, middle, or high school, what is being done to support this interest when they reach college or university?

31

Astronomy in the News
Surprises at Mercury, a Saturnian moon hiding salt, and a gravitational lens reveals an early spiral galaxy — these are some of the discoveries that recently made news in the astronomical community.

Departments

4

Editorial, Paul Deans
Write On

5

First Word, James G. Manning
A Walk in the Woods

7

Echoes of the Past, Katherine Bracher
90 Years Ago: Photographing the Planets

8

Annals of Astronomy, Clifford J. Cunningham
Erasmus Reinhold at 500

9

Astronomer's Notebook, Jennifer Birriel
Origin of Interstellar Absorption Features

10

Planetary Perspectives, Daniel D. Durda
Curious Corrugations in Saturn's C Ring

11

Armchair Astrophysics, Christopher Wanjek
The Death of Astrophysics?

12

Education Matters, David Bruning
Opening the Door to Conceptual Understanding

13

Reaching Out, Bethany Cobb
Public Audiences Are Different

36

Society Scope/ASP Supporters
ASP Award Winners

40

Sky Sights, Paul Deans
In Search of the Milky Way

43

Reflections, Nick Risinger
Photoptic Sky Survey