description Andrea Ghez Overview
Andrea Ghez is an American astrophysicist renowned for her groundbreaking research on Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s center. Her meticulous observations using the Very Large Array provided critical evidence supporting this theory and earned her a share of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics. She continues to advance our understanding of extreme gravitational environments and is influential for astronomers, physicists, and those interested in black hole research.
help Andrea Ghez FAQ
What did Andrea Ghez discover about Sagittarius A*?
Ghez and her collaborators tracked stars orbiting the compact radio source Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way. The fast, tight orbit of the star S2 provided strong evidence for a supermassive black hole of roughly four million solar masses.
Which observatory did Andrea Ghez use to study the Galactic center?
Ghez used the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, including adaptive optics to correct for atmospheric distortion. These observations made it possible to measure stellar positions close to Sagittarius A* with extraordinary precision.
Who shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics with Andrea Ghez?
Ghez shared half of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics with Reinhard Genzel for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the center of the Milky Way. Roger Penrose received the other half for theoretical work on black-hole formation.
How long does the star S2 take to orbit Sagittarius A*?
S2 completes an orbit around Sagittarius A* in approximately 16 years. Following that orbit allowed Ghez's team to measure the gravitational field near the Milky Way's central black hole.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
