Astrophysics

Four powerful lasers enhance observational oower of ESO’s Paranal Observatory more

Two gravitational wave signals explain why the heavier black holes of the causal pairs did not originate in a stellar explosion more

Event Horizon Telescope observations capture evolving polarization patterns around the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87 more

The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics celebrate the anniversary and present new, exciting results more

A look into the throat of an active galaxy reveals a ring-shaped magnetic field that may explain extreme gamma radiation and neutrinos more

Astronomers find signs of complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc more

A new laboratory experiment uses a water vortex to investigate how planets form from material in protoplanetary gas and dust disks more

The first images are larger and deeper than ever before, showing sections of the Milky Way and the deep universe. Researchers from the Max Planck Society report on their planned research more

The Solar Orbiter is the first spacecraft to study the Sun's poles – and finds the magnetic field in a state of flip more

The detection of atmospheric methane and silicon suggests that it originated in a region analogous to the Solar System’s domain of gas and ice giants. more

A new class of supermassive black holes embedded in a thick gas shell could explain small red dots in images from the James Webb Space Telescope more

Astronomical images not only look beautiful, they also provide a wealth of information. What's behind it and what distinguishes four prominent telescopes? An overview. more

The American astronomer fundamentally advanced our knowledge of galactic dynamics, laid the groundwork for dark matter research, and was a lifelong advocate for women in science more

The sight of a bright comet has fascinated people at all times. But what is behind such a celestial spectacle? It was only in modern times that researchers discovered the phenomenon - by which time the tail stars had already had a long career as bringers of bad luck or divine messengers. more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2023 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

The Euclid space telescope contains technology from two Max Planck Institutes more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2022 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Reinhard Genzel of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics on the first image of the galactic centre more

The active galaxy Centaurus A has made history in radio astronomy more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2020 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 13 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Interview with Reinhard Genzel, director at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and architect of the 30-year programme that led to the discovery of the Schwarzschild precession around the black hole at the heart of our Milky Way. Genzel describes the general relativity effect observed by his team and how it can be used to study the galactic gravity trap.Reinhard Genzel receives the Nobel Prize for Physics 2020
Digital Story: Reinhard Genzel more