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 pulsar PSR B1259-63 plunges into the ring of Be star SS 2883 twice during its 3.4-year elliptical orbit. The plunges are only a few months apart, just before and after periastron, the point when the two objects in orbit are closest to each other.
It is during the plunges that X-rays and gamma rays are emitted. The XMM-Newton observatory detects X-rays as seen on the background image.