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 shapes of five exceptionally bright and beautiful comets, depicted in an engraving dated 23 September 1860.
From left to right, the image shows the Great Comet of 1680 (official name: C/1680 V1), the Great Comet of 1811 (C/1811 F1), Comet Donati (C/1858 L1), Comet Halley (1P/Halley) and the six-tailed Great Comet of 1744 (C/1743 X1, mislabelled in the original image).
Read more about the history of our fascination with comets here