Astrophysics

Flaky structures (blue) against a black background, flowing spirally around a bright centre. On the left half, green and violet dots cover the structures.

Astronomers have identified what could be two of the Milky Way’s earliest building blocks: Named “Shakti” and “Shiva”, these appear to be the remnants of two galaxies that merged between 12 and 13 billion years ago with an early version of the Milky Way, contributing to our home galaxy’s initial growth. more

two diffuse spheres glowing in bright blue orbit each other very closely, a green beam shines upwards and downwards from the center

Computer simulation reveals the dynamo that generates large-scale magnetic fields in merging neutron stars and that may result in high-energetic gamma-ray outbursts more

Section of a circle with a band of gray and white streaks at the equator and a multitude of red and blue circles above and below it

Results from the first X-ray sky survey resolve the previous inconsistency between competing measurements of the structure of the Universe
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Blue, earth-like planet in the foreground on the right with a yellow shining star in the background on the left

Simulations provide a potential explanation for the mysterious gap in the size distribution of super-Earths. more

Two adjacent and slightly overlapping circles, left with diffuse orange-brownish structures, right with scattered white dots

First eROSITA sky-survey data release makes public the largest ever catalogue of high-energy cosmic sources more

Magnetic launching of black hole jets in Perseus A

First observations of the radio galaxy Perseus A with the Event Horizon Telescope more

Reddish vortex seen from from the side above with a bright centre and a thin ray protruding vertically from the plane

Black hole at the centre of a galaxy in the early universe received less mass influx than expected more

Blue planet illuminated by a bright star

Steamy world could be a sample of water-rich planets throughout our galaxy more

New radiotelescope launches survey of the southern sky

SKAMPI starts scientific operation as a test telescope of the Square Kilometre Array more

Black hole with bright companion star in the midst of other stars

Data from the MeerKAT radio telescope reveal an object at the boundary between a black hole and a neutron star more

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Two adjacent and slightly overlapping circles, left with diffuse orange-brownish structures, right with scattered white dots

First eROSITA sky-survey data release makes public the largest ever catalogue of high-energy cosmic sources more

Reddish vortex seen from from the side above with a bright centre and a thin ray protruding vertically from the plane

Black hole at the centre of a galaxy in the early universe received less mass influx than expected more

Black hole with bright companion star in the midst of other stars

Data from the MeerKAT radio telescope reveal an object at the boundary between a black hole and a neutron star more

Blue-green-yellow splashes of colour with red-white islands against a blue background.

ALMA Radio observatory observes for the first time how double, triple, quadruple and quintuple star systems form simultaneously in a molecular cloud more

Einstein Probe research satellite successfully launched

New space telescope sets out in search of extreme astrophysical X-ray sources more

The goldmine of a neutron star collision

International research team models the different signatures of a kilonova explosion simultaneously for the first time more

Glowing red swirling solar surface with gas ejections against a black background

A thought experiment investigates what would happen if a tiny primordial black hole were to sit at the center of the sun more

Rays of light lead from an orange disc with a bright yellow centre at the bottom right into the upper left half of the picture, which is criss-crossed by differently coloured streaks against a background of stars.

Planets like our Earth, including planets with water, could form even in the harshest known star-forming environments, drenched by hard UV light from massive stars. more

A tidy-looking picture with elliptical, bluish glowing spots of various sizes in the foreground, some with recognisable structures reminiscent of a vortex, against a black background with scattered sharp, bluish dots and yellowish diffuse spots.

Euclid space telescope delivers first scientific images more

Blue-pink double club with swirled structures against a black background.

With the James Webb space telescope, an international team has captured a spectacular image of the object HH211. Here, a young stellar system ejects two supersonic streams of gas, which testify to the turbulent process of star formation inside the system. more

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Research highlights 2023

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

Close-up of two people in surgical clothing and FFP masks working on a shiny, bright metal apparatus. On the left of the picture is an optical lens, about the size of the palm of the hand, set in a metal frame, on the right is the metal frame on which the lens system is to be placed.

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

“A wonderful confirmation of our observations”

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

The nebula with the dark band

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

Scientific highlights 2020

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

“The telescope offers enormous potential”

Peter Predehl from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics on the eRosita mission more

A solar eclipse sheds light on physics

Observations of the cosmic shadow dance on 29 May 1919 substantiated a new scientific view of the world more

The backbone of the night

Like a huge spiral, the Milky Way floats in space more

“The galactic centre offers fantastic opportunities”

Interview with Reinhard Genzel on his observation of an effect of the general theory of relativity more

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The supermassive giant at the heart of the Milky Way | Interview with Prof. Reinhard Genzel

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

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