Where can you find solar and heliospheric physics, asteroseismology, planetary science, observations of binary stars, massive stars, young stars, old stars, brown dwarfs, exoplanets, the study of galaxy birth and evolution, galaxy clusters, high-energy cosmic events, cosmology, astronomy in X-rays, infrared, ultraviolet, radio wavelengths and gamma rays, the science behind the building and optics of the world’s largest telescopes, astronauts and pro-am collaborations, all under roof? The answer is at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science, where Astronomy Now reported from for the week-long conference, and which forms the backbone of this month’s issue.

In the rest of the magazine Emily Baldwin follows the amazing story of asteroid 2008 TC3 as it was tracked through space, followed as it entered the Earth’s atmosphere and exploded, and fragments of it recovered from the ground; Nick Howes shows you how you can make the most of the short summer nights to image some planetary nebula and we also review the nation’s first Moonwatch event, organised by the Society for Popular Astronomy. And if you’re stupefied by spirals or mystifies by mergers, our Astronomy Now Guide to the Galaxies is waiting for you!

All that plus our usual news, reviews and regular features including Jeremy Perez’s Drawn to the Universe and Carol Stott’s Starting from Scratch.