European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (120 ...
(ESA) to provide access to astronomical data. It aims to offer a user-friendly interface for exploring various datasets, including images, catalogues, and spectra, collected from ESA missions like Planck, Herschel, Gaia, HST, XMM-Newton, and INTEGRAL, among others. Additionally, ESASky incorporates data from other projects such as NASA's Chandra and JAXA's Suzaku, enhancing its scope and utility.
Details
ESASky can generate all-sky maps using the Hierarchical Progressive Surveys (HiPS) technology. These maps are constructed from actual observations gathered by different missions and allow users to visualize and compare imaging observations across multiple wavelengths. This capability enables astronomers to gain insights into celestial objects and phenomena spanning a wide range of wavelengths.
ESASky is also designed to facilitate
data exploration Data exploration is an approach similar to initial data analysis, whereby a data analyst uses visual exploration to understand what is in a dataset and the characteristics of the data, rather than through traditional data management systems.
by allowing users to overlay footprints of different datasets, providing a comprehensive view of multiwavelength observations for specific celestial sources or regions of interest. This feature enables researchers to analyze data from various missions and projects simultaneously, enhancing their ability to study astrophysical phenomena comprehensively.
ESASky was designed to simplify data discovery and retrieval by offering efficient search functionalities and allowing users to filter and preview data before downloading. It is intended to streamline the process of accessing astronomical data, aiming to reduce the need to navigate through individual mission archives.