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
Go to topicThe total solar eclipse of 13-14 November 2012 was only visible to ground-based observers situated in northern Australia, while ESA's Sun-watching satellite Proba-2 enjoyed three partial eclipses from its viewpoint in space. The constant change in viewing angle of Proba-2 as it orbits the Earth meant that the satellite passed through the Moon’s shadow a total of three times during the eclipse event. The video was produced from images taken by Proba-2’s SWAP imager, which snaps the Sun in ultraviolet light to reveal stormy active regions on the solar disc.
The apparent noise in the movie results from high energy particles hitting Proba-2's electronics as the spacecraft passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly. The dimming in the movie is an effect as part of the satellite's orbit passes through the shadow of the Earth.
Read full article here: http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMFYC72Q8H_index_0.html