Lurking at the centre of our Milky Way is a black hole with a mass four million times greater than the Sun. Although we have not (yet) been able to see the black hole directly, we can measure its effect on the stars, gas and dust in the central region of the galaxy. Join astronomer and Headington resident Patrick Roche as he explains how we know the black hole exists and the new technologies being used to investigate this part of space.

Patrick Roche is a Professor and Tutor in Physics at the Physics Department and Hertford College Oxford. He has been involved in a number of major telescope programmes and has recently completed his term as President of the governing council of the European Southern Observatory and as board chair of the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre array. His research interests include the formation of stars, molecules and cosmic dust particles in a range of environments.

Science on Your Doorstep is our new series of events showcasing the scientists who live and work in the Headington area.

The event is free to attend, but you are invited to make a donation towards a special fund we’re setting up to support disadvantaged schools across the region. The fund will help these schools with their travel costs, to enable them to come and enjoy the new Science Oxford Centre too.

For information on our booking terms and conditions visit here.