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 surface of the Moon is quite dark. The colour of the lunar landscape is mostly charcoal-grey. The Moon reflects the light of the Sun.
Seen from Earth, the atmosphere scatters certain wavelengths of light. When the Moon is close to the horizon, it often looks reddish. As it goes higher in the sky and is less obscured by the atmosphere, the Moon appears more yellow.
Image description: Paint brush with dark grey emulsion over Moon.