germanium

Germanium (Ge) is the element with atomic number 32, symbol Ge Its common isotopes have mass numbers 70, 72, or 74, and somewhat fewer have 73. It is a trans-iron element, its nuclei synthesized by the s-process in AGB stars, and the r-process in supernovae. Its spectral lines are used in confirming and analyzing such syntheses.

Germanium has another vital role in astronomy: it is widely used in solid-state electronics and also has uses in optics, thus is of interest to virtually all research astronomy.