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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This composite is assembled from separate images of Jupiter and comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, as imaged by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in 1994.
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was discovered by astronomers Carolyn and Eugene M. Shoemaker and David Levy on 24 March 1993. It was the first comet observed to be orbiting a planet – in this case, Jupiter – rather than the Sun. The effect of Jupiter's tidal forces tore the comet apart on its approach and, eventually, the fragments collided with Jupiter between 16 and 22 July 1994.
The image of the comet, showing 21 fragments, was taken on 17 May 1994. The image of Jupiter was taken on 18 May 1994; the dark spot on the planet’s disc is the shadow of the inner moon lo. The apparent angular size of Jupiter relative to the comet and its angular separation from the comet when the images were taken have been modified for illustration purposes.