This animation shows the where ESA's future mission to monitor solar activity will reside – the 5th Lagrange point. This gravitationally stable position that 'trails' behind Earth, provides a unique ‘side’ view of the Sun. From here, the mission previously known as Lagrange will be able to spot dangerous solar activity before it rotates into view from Earth.

The spacecraft's instruments will provide near real-time data and are expected to build on those flown on earlier ESA and joint solar missions, such as SOHO, Stereo, Proba-2 and Solar Orbiter.

Asset updated on Sept 19 2018 (HA)

New video, new caption, new production date

Old production date: Feb 1 2018

Old title: Monitoring solar activity

Old caption:

In this animation, ESA’s future space weather satellite is seen positioned away from the Earth–Sun line and monitoring a coronal mass ejection from the Sun.

The agency is now studying design options for stationing a dedicated space weather mission at the L5 Lagrange point, where gravity and the orbital motion of the spacecraft, the Sun and our planet combine to create a stable location. From here, the spacecraft would view solar features before they rotate into view of Earth.

The spacecraft's instruments are expected to build on those flown on earlier ESA and joint solar missions, such as SOHO, Stereo, Proba-2 and Solar Orbiter.

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