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.
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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
Go to topicOn 22 March 2004, the 750th comet seen by SOHO was discovered by the German amateur astronomer Sebastian F. Hönig (one of the most successful SOHO comet-hunters)
Here the comet is seen by SOHO LASCO C3. The LASCO coronagraph on SOHO, designed for seeing outbursts from the Sun, uses a mask to block the bright rays from the visible surface. It monitors a large volume of surrounding space, and as a result has become the most prolific discoverer of comets in the history of astronomy.
This comet was part of the Kreutz family, a group of sungrazing comets. This type of comet usually evaporates in the hot solar atmosphere.
The ESA/NASA SOHO mission was launched on 2 December 1995.