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THEME OF FEBRUARY 23 COSMIC COCKTAIL HOUR IS "THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF GALAXIES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE"

In the early eons of cosmic time, how did the universe transform from slow-moving clumps of dark matter to large and complex galaxies, such as Andromeda and our own local Milky Way?

For the Carnegie Observatories Cosmic Cocktail Hour presented by the Pasadena Senior Center Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m. via Zoom, Dr. Ivanna Escala will discuss what past studies have revealed about the building blocks of galaxies in the broader universe.

Escala is a Carnegie-Princeton postdoctoral fellow whose research at Carnegie Observatories includes galactic archeology, stellar spectroscopy and galaxy formation. She uses ground-based telescopes to measure chemical abundances of individual stars in nearby galaxies and learn about their formation history. She earned her undergraduate degree in physics with specialization in astrophysics from the University of California San Diego and her PhD in astrophysics from Caltech.

The cost of Cosmic Cocktail Hour is only $7 for members of the Pasadena Senior Center and $10 for nonmembers 50 and older. To register, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Special Events or call 626-795-4331. Everyone who registers will receive an email link to access this Zoom event. Neither Pasadena Senior Center membership nor residency in Pasadena are required.

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 a monthly magazine, COVID updates specifically for older adults 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. 

In accordance with Los Angeles County Public Health Department guidelines, proof of COVID vaccination is required for everyone who uses the fitness center or attends onsite activities indoors. All onsite instructors and presenters are required to meet minimum COVID protocols.

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Photo caption: The Andromeda Galaxy surrounded by its halo – a reservoir of gas that contains fuel for future star formation. Photographed by the Hubble Telescope.

Photo credit: NASA