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.
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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 topicThis video clip obtained by SOHO’s EIT instrument, was taken in extreme ultraviolet light and covers about 24 hours. It shows two ‘EIT waves’, a kind of solar storm that blasts out from an active region across a portion of the Sun’s surface.
The two waves originated in the sunspot whose appearing marked the start of the new solar cycle (‘Cycle 24’) on 4 January 2008. The first, smaller wave was observed on 6 January 2008, while a stronger wave was observed the next day.