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 image depicts a collection of some of the brightest comets observed by the LASCO coronagraph on the ESA/NASA SOHO observatory. Almost all of these comets were discovered by citizen scientists, who take part in the Sungrazer project. By studying LASCO images, anyone can report new comets and make new discoveries.
Although LASCO studies the outer atmosphere of the Sun, known as the corona, it is also a powerful comet hunter. In its 26 years of operation, SOHO has observed over 4500 comets, making it the most successful comet hunter in history.