Contact(s):
Ann Erdman
(626) 375-2742

THEME OF SEPT. 1 COSMIC COCKTAIL HOUR IS "OBSERVING THE HEAVENS: 21ST CENTURY ASTRONOMERS AND TELESCOPES"

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. In fact, historic records show that people studied astronomy as far back as ancient Mesopotamia between 3100 BC and 332 BC using only the naked eye. They recorded their findings by pressing the ends of cut reeds into wet clay to make the distinctive, cuneiform wedge-shaped marks that created the first written language in history.

For the monthly Cosmic Cocktail Hour Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. via Zoom, Dr. Alicia Lanz will discuss how 21st century scientists plan for the next generation of astronomical instruments.

Lanz is a postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Observatories whose focus is on developing optical/infrared instrumentation for the study of galaxy evolution. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley where she received her bachelor's degree in physics and astrophysics, and Caltech where she earned her master's degree and PhD in physics.

To register, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Online Events or call 626-795-4331. Everyone who registers will receive an email link to access the Zoom event.

Then pour your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy the astronomical trip.

In addition to online classes, onsite events and other activities, members and nonmembers of the Pasadena Senior Center are encouraged to visit the website regularly for COVID-19 updates for older adults and other timely information, a weekly blog, monthly magazine, ongoing activities throughout the year and more.

The center, at 85 E. Holly St., is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit organization that has served older adults for more than 60 years. During the pandemic, doors are open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for social services and other critical services for older adults in need as well as limited occupancy for events, the library, fitness center and computer lab. Masks and social distancing are required. Rooms are sanitized after each use.

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Photo caption: During a survey of nearly 100 galaxies in the nearby universe, a Carnegie Observatories team observed NGC4321, a galaxy that features asymmetric morphology (the structural properties of galaxies). NGC4321 is shown here as an orange/red composite with Hubble Space Telescope data.

Photo credit: Carnegie Observatories