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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Herschel’s image of the infrared rings of dust in the Andromeda Galaxy has been colour-coded and superimposed over the optical image. The dust rings neatly fit into the dark lanes of the optical image. The dust appears dark in the visible image because it is not hot enough to shine at visible wavelengths, as stars do. Instead, the dust releases its energy as infrared radiation.