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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As HD 5980's two major stars orbit each other every 20 days, the X-ray emission of the system changes. The left part shows the actual XMM-Newton data, whereas the right side gives the geometry of the system at the same time (the observer is supposed to look at it from the bottom). The collision is marked with a solid dark line, the orbit in a thinner line, and the erupting star in dark blue.