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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Milan at night, Italy, as seen by ESA astronaut André Kuipers aboard the International Space Station in 2012. It shows Milan before the transition to LED technology. The many different streetlight colours visible indicate the use of different lighting technologies.
André used a digital camera with 180 mm-lenses to take this picture from the International Space Station.
Colour pictures taken from the International Space Station are the best source for scientists to map artificial light at night.
This image has been colour-calibrated by the International Astronomical Union.