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Reinhard Genzel

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description Reinhard Genzel Overview

Reinhard Genzel is a German astrophysicist renowned for his pioneering work on supermassive black holes. His meticulous observations of stars orbiting near the galactic center provided critical evidence for their existence and properties. This research, conducted throughout the 21st century, earned him the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Andrea Ghez. Genzel’s detailed analysis is essential for scientists studying extreme gravitational environments and furthering our understanding of astrophysics.

help Reinhard Genzel FAQ

What is Sagittarius A* in Reinhard Genzel's research?

Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*, is the compact object at the center of the Milky Way. Genzel's team tracked nearby stars and found evidence that the object is a supermassive black hole, as described by the [Nobel Prize](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2020/genzel/facts/).

How did Reinhard Genzel find evidence for the Milky Way's black hole?

Since the 1990s, Genzel and his collaborators measured the rapid orbits of stars near the galactic center. The stars' movement revealed a huge mass concentrated in a very small region, even though the black hole itself does not emit visible light.

Who shared Reinhard Genzel's 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics?

Genzel shared the prize with Andrea Ghez, while Roger Penrose received the other half for work on black-hole formation. Genzel and Ghez were recognized for discovering the supermassive compact object at the center of our galaxy.

Why can astronomers not see a black hole directly in Genzel's observations?

A black hole does not emit light that can escape from inside its event horizon. Astronomers therefore infer its presence from nearby radiation and from the movement of stars such as those orbiting Sgr A*.