Anton Zensus
Director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.
Research focus on galaxies and black holes with the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry.
Professor at the University of Cologne. 1985 to 2001 researcher in the USA at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the California Institute of Technology. Doctorate at the University of Münster.
Founding chairman of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, which published the first image of a black hole in 2019.
Bio
Professor Anton Zensus is a German astrophysicist and member of the Max Planck Society. He gained international recognition for his leading role in taking the first picture of a black hole – a scientific milestone made possible by technological excellence and global cooperation. His outstanding scientific achievements, his commitment to international research collaborations and his global network distinguish Anton Zensus as a bridge-builder in international science.
After completing his doctorate in Münster in 1984, Anton Zensus continued his research at prestigious institutions in the United States, including the California Institute of Technology and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico and Virginia. In 1996, at the age of 38, he accepted the post of director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, where he and his research group, together with international partners, refined the “Very Long Baseline Interferometry” technique. This technique makes it possible to use a worldwide network of telescopes as one giant, earth-spanning telescope. His research and development work has led to groundbreaking advances, not only in earth-based but also in space-based astronomy – in close collaboration with global research organizations and space agencies. As founding chair of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Anton Zensus has contributed significantly to the success of this international team of researchers, which took the first images of black holes in the galaxy Messier 87 and in our Milky Way.
Anton Zensus is strongly committed to supporting young scientists. In lectures and interviews, he communicates the results and social relevance of his fundamental astrophysical research to the general public.
Anton Zensus has an extensive scientific network, particularly with leading institutions in Europe, the United States, China and Mexico. He has received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics 2019 (shared with the EHT team), the Tycho Brahe Medal 2023 and the Karl Schwarzschild Medal 2024.
Stations
Scientific member of the Max Planck Society and director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn since 1997
Honorary professor at the University of Cologne since 2005
Scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) since 1991, with tenure from Associated Universities Inc. since 1996
Researcher at the California Institute of Technology Caltech and at the NRAO from 1985 to 1991
Doctorate in 1984 and diploma in physics in 1982 from the University of Münster
Scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation 1982-1984
PhD student at the MPIfR 1982-1984
Abitur at the Nicolaus Cusanus Grammar School in Bergisch Gladbach 1976
Honors
Karl Schwarzschild Medal of the Astronomical Society 2024
Tycho Brahe Medal of the European Astronomical Society 2023
With the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration: Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics 2020, Group Award of the Royal Astronomical Society 2021, Einstein Medal of the Swiss Einstein Society 2020, Bruno Rossi Group Award of the American Astronomical Society 2020 and other awards.
Gold Medal of the Institute for Applied Astrophysics St. Petersburg 2013
Radioastron Medal of the Astro Space Center Moscow 2012
Max Planck Research Award 1999
Alexander von Humboldt Research Award 1994
Commissions of Trust
Current:
EHT Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Board
EVN European VLBI Network, Board
JIVE Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, Council
RadioNet, Coordinator
Opticon-RadioNet Pilot, Scientific Coordinator
DFG German Research Foundation, Physics Review Board
KoWi German Research Association, Scientific Advisory Board
AUI Associated Universities Inc., Astronomy Committee
ngVLA Next Generation Very Large Array Project, Science Advisory Board
Deutsches Museum, Kuratorium
Highlights
My research
My team and I study galaxies that are millions of light-years away from us. To do this, we connect radio telescopes around the world and in space to a virtual telescope that is as large as the Earth or even larger. This provides us with precise measurements and images of the central galactic regions, revealing their astrophysical conditions. These included the first image of a black hole in the galaxy Messier 87 in 2019.
Publications
My research is published in the astronomical literature. Current results are available as preprints before publication.
International Collaboration
My scientific team in Bonn is world-renowned for our expertise and research results with Very Long Baseline Interferometry. With this technique, we capture distant galactic cores in extremely high resolution. For over 25 years, we have been increasing the precision of this method, together with international partners. To do this, we conduct highly sensitive experiments from Earth and with antennas in space, thereby laying the foundation for our astrophysical studies.
Event Horizon Telescope
In 2017, I co-founded the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHTC) with international partners and chaired the EHTC Collaboration Council. We united the world’s most powerful radio telescopes and over 200 scientists and engineers from more than 60 institutions. In 2019, we took the first picture of a black hole in the galaxy Messier 87. This image is considered one of the most significant scientific results of the decade and has been seen by over a billion people – the invisible has become visible. In 2022, we published the image of the black hole in our own galaxy, the Milky Way, another important breakthrough.
RadioNet
Europe is home to world-class radio telescopes that enable a wide range of astrophysical studies. These facilities are open to qualified scientists in Europe and worldwide and promote cutting-edge research. For over 20 years, we have been cooperating with the European Commission in the RadioNet project to provide access, technical developments and training. For eight years, I led this project as a coordinator. Today, as scientific coordinator of the successor project OPTICON-RADIONET PILOT ORP, I am working to ensure that these research opportunities continue into the future.
Stories
Passing on Experience
During my career, I have learned from brilliant pioneers in my field. For many years, I have supported the next generation of research leaders on their way to the top of science as a doctoral supervisor, mentor, supervisor or coach.
Mentoring
I am a mentor at the Elisabeth Schiemann Kolleg for female junior research group leaders.
Systemic Counseling
My many years of working with diverse international teams has led me to integrate systemic thinking into my leadership. Through further training as a systemic supervisor, coach and change manager, I have broadened my perspective on leading and supporting employees.
Lectures & Keynotes
I explain our discoveries to non-specialists and place my experiences in basic research in the larger context of our society.
Advisory
On scientific advisory boards, steering committees and supervisory boards, I support major international research projects as well as research-related organizations and institutions.
Supervision
As a systemic supervisor, I support scientific leaders in reflecting on their leadership behavior.
