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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Orbit of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks around the Sun and location on 14 March 2024.
The comet's highly eccentric 71-year orbit brings it closer to the Sun than Earth but also takes it farther from the Sun than Neptune.
This visualisation was created using ESA's 'NEO Toolkit'.