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
Go to topicThis animation shows how the light-curve (or the light radiated by a star) changes when as a planet passes in front or transits the star.
In the animation, we see the behaviour of the light-curve when a large starspot is present on the stellar surface (shown in blue). Another, smaller starspot appears at a different latitude, rotating with a different velocity. The light-curve in the animation can be compared to the one observed in the next figure it can be seen that it is a reasonable interpretation.