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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Annular solar eclipse on 15 January 2010 observed by the Sun-imaging SWAP (Sun Watcher using APS detectors and imaging processing) instrument on ESA's Proba-2.
This is the same solar eclipse observed on the ground from Africa and Asia, the longest eclipse of the new millennium. It is termed 'annular' because the Moon is further away from the Earth than during a total eclipse, so only part of the Sun is covered.