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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
Recent infrared and radio observations of the Galactic Center are reviewed. For the region between 1 and 100 pc most of the observed phenomena can be explained by a large density of late-type stars, a ring of molecular material, and a number of regions of active star formation. The central parsec (Sgr A) appears to be a unique region of activity in the Galaxy; this result is based on recent high angular resolution data at 30 to 100 μm and high resolution spectral line observations at 12.8 μm. The observations are discussed in terms of the mass, density structure, and luminosity of the region; the ultimate source of the activity is discussed.