The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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From Earth, Menzel 3 resembles the head and thorax of a common garden ant, hence its name. However, this Hubble image shows 10 times more detail than Earth-based views and reveals the 'ant's body' as a pair of lobes protruding from a dying, Sun-like star. The lobes display intriguing symmetrical patterns formed during the turbulent ejection of gas from the central star, quite unlike the chaotic patterns expected from an ordinary explosion.