Galaxies

Galaxies

The first image of the deep universe taken by the James Webb Telescope

New all-sky survey by the MeerKAT radio telescope shows the universe as expected at large distances - unlike previous observations by other telescopes more

<span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Astronomers find the nearest massive black hole</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>

With 8200 solar masses, the black hole fills the evolutionary gap between stellar and supermassive black holes more

A multitude of white-yellowish roundish spots with halos sitting in a larger black spot against a grey background

New scientific data from the Euclid Space Telescope reveals the mystery of the faint glow in the Perseus galaxy cluster more

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 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

For the first time, signatures of individual cold and dense star-forming clouds in a galaxy outside the Milky Way have been mapped over a wide area. more

Research highlights 2023

Research highlights 2023

December 19, 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

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

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 Smoking Gun for  Supermassive Binaries in Active Galactic Nuclei

Blazar Jet Variability probes precession caused by orbiting black holes in the centers of galaxies more

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The first image of the deep universe taken by the James Webb Telescope

New all-sky survey by the MeerKAT radio telescope shows the universe as expected at large distances - unlike previous observations by other telescopes more

<span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Astronomers find the nearest massive black hole</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>

With 8200 solar masses, the black hole fills the evolutionary gap between stellar and supermassive black holes more

A multitude of white-yellowish roundish spots with halos sitting in a larger black spot against a grey background

New scientific data from the Euclid Space Telescope reveals the mystery of the faint glow in the Perseus galaxy cluster 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

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

Collage of three sections of the simulation. Each section shows three sub-aspects of the simulation on three segments arranged like pieces of cake. Each part shows net-like structures with different colours: yellow to magenta (top right), grey to yellow (top left) and white on a black background (bottom).

New computer simulation of the universe as a promising multitool more

Artist's impression of the measurement of the gravitational wave background using pulsars distributed in the Milky Way.

Precise as a clock: pulsars in the Milky Way form large-scale observatory for gravitational waves more

A coloured network that resembles a vortex with a central tightening. The outer areas of the vortex appear blue-greyish with magenta-white islands, while the circular core area appears in deep blue.

James Webb Space Telescope unveils star formation in gas and dust networks of other galaxies more

The picture consists of two square images. On the left are numerous orange spots of different sizes and brightness. On the right is a zoom into the brightest and largest of these spots. There, against the background of many stars, a reddish disc orbits a black sphere lying in the centre. From the surroundings of the black sphere, a violet ray is formed that is directed upwards.

Large-scale observational campaign provides new insights into an assumed black hole binary at the centre of the active galaxy OJ 287 more

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Research highlights 2023

Research highlights 2023

December 19, 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

Scientific highlights 2020

December 21, 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 backbone of the night

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

Migration of stars

Oscillations from the Milky Way disk seem to relocate stars to large vertical distances from their place of birth more

The far side of the Milky Way

Astronomers achieve record measurement for an improved picture of our home galaxy more

Ring around a dwarf planet detected

Ten observatories put their sight on the dwarf planet more

<p>4.6 billion-year-old galaxy shines light on our universe</p>

A distant galaxy's effects on radio waves provide clues about the formation of cosmic magnetic fields 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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