ESASky

What ESASky actually is

The European Space Agency's public window onto its science archives lets you type an object name, land on it, and then overlay observations from Hubble, Webb, Gaia, XMM-Newton and others. Footprints mark exactly which patch of sky each telescope has already covered.

Why it is worth your time

Those observation footprints reveal how patchy our coverage still is, dense over the famous targets and empty almost everywhere else.

Common questions

Is ESASky free?

Yes. ESASky is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does ESASky take?

Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention. We file it under "Coffee break" — search the sky the way the ESA science archives see it.

Does ESASky work on a phone?

ESASky really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is ESASky?

We list it under Cosmos & Scale — zoom out until you feel small. Those observation footprints reveal how patchy our coverage still is, dense over the famous targets and empty almost everywhere else.