Séminaire IPAG

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Probing the gravitational potential of Sagittarius A* with stars and flares

jeudi 8 janvier 2026 - 11h00

Antonia Drescher - IPAG
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The center of the Milky Way hosts the closest supermassive black hole to Earth. This black hole, called Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), is surrounded by old and young stars and different gas streamers, forming a complex system that provides a unique laboratory for studying astrophysical processes. In this talk, I will present results from GRAVITY observations of stars and hot gas orbiting Sgr A*. These include the detection of new stars, the astrometric monitoring of 17 stars in the inner 400 milli-arcseconds of Sgr A*, and polarimetric and astrometric observations of flares, enabling stringent tests of General Relativity and providing new insights into the environment of Sgr A* and the black hole itself. I will also discuss how the instrument upgrade GRAVITY+ opens up the sky for observations of ever-fainter targets.

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Hôtes : Karine Perraut

Salle Manuel Forestini, 414 rue de la piscine, 38400 Saint Martin d'Hères