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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The last Mercury transit across the Sun that took place in the night between 8 and 9 November 2006, and it was observed in great detail with the three telescope instruments on board the Hinode (Solar-B) satellite (a JAXA mission with ESA participation).
These images were taken by Hinode’s Solar Optical Telescope (SOT). Mercury is clearly visible as a dark disk with a diameter approximately 10 seconds of arc.