Invited Talks: IRAM - Granada::

times closer than the next comparable nucleus in a spiral galaxy, and 1000 times closer than the next active galactic nucleus. Therefore, the center of our Galaxy serves as a unique laboratory to investigate the physical processes at the bottom of the potential of a common spiral galaxy. On its way to the Solar System, the radiation emitted at the center of the Milky Way has to traverse dense clouds of gas and dust in the Galactic plane. It is consequently subject to strong extinction. Therefore, one can study the Galaxy center only at radio and infrared wavelengths, and in the X-ray regime. In this talk I will present the results of infrared observations of the Galactic center, with a particular emphasis on the nuclear star cluster and the massive black hole, Sagittarius A*, which is located at the very dynamical center of the Milky Way.||