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 images in this panel were obtained by the VIRTIS imaging spectrometer on board Venus Express on 5 and 6 June 2007, before and after MESSENGER’s closest approach to the planet.
These panels from VIRTIS provide a night-side view of the same region that Messenger flew over and imaged.
The images where obtained at 1.7 micrometres, revealing atmospheric details down to an altitude of 50 km from the surface.
Two stills from these images can be downloaded here [ VI0410_00_prj_17.tif, VI0411_03_prj_17.tif ]