Abstract: Being located at only ~8 kpc from us, the center of our Galaxy provides us with the unique opportunity to study the physics occurring in the core of normal galaxies at very high spatial resolution. Thanks to its penetrating power, the X-ray band is particularly suited for studies of the Galactic center, allowing us to have a direct view of the central heart of the Milky Way. At the center of this stage, the accretion onto Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, is observed to currently produce very low luminosity. In this talk I will discuss the recent multi-wavelength campaigns to study the current emission from Sgr A* as well as the evidence in favour of a period of more luminous activity, just a few centuries ago.
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