(File Photo – VisitPasadena)
Astronomy enthusiasts and curious community members alike are invited to explore the wonders of space at an upcoming Stargazing Lecture hosted by the California Institute of Technology this Friday, March 27, 2026.
By Melanie Hooks
The free public event will take place from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, located at 1216 E. California Blvd. The evening will begin with a lecture from 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm, followed by a question-and-answer session and guided stargazing, weather permitting.
The featured speaker, Charles Elachi, former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and emeritus professor of planetary science at Caltech, will present a talk titled “Space Exploration and Discovery: From the Deserts of Egypt to Saturn’s Moon Titan.”
Drawing from firsthand experience, Elachi will discuss the excitement and scientific breakthroughs of major exploration missions led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His talk will highlight projects including Mars rovers and helicopters, the discovery of lakes on Saturn’s moon Titan, investigations into subsurface oceans on Jupiter’s moon Europa, the identification of ancient buried rivers in Egypt, and earthquake mapping through the recent JPL NiSAR mission.
For those unable to attend in person, the lecture and Q&A session will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
The Stargazing Lectures series is designed to make astronomy accessible to the public. Each session features a short lecture, followed by interactive discussion and telescope viewing opportunities. While stargazing depends on clear skies, the lecture and Q&A portions will proceed regardless of weather conditions.
All events in the series are free and open to the public, with no reservations required. Attendees are welcome to stay for any portion of the program.
For additional details, including directions and weather updates, visitors can check Caltech’s astronomy outreach website or contact Cameron Hummels at chummels@caltech.edu.
Stargazing Lecture Friday, March 27, 2026 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Location Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics 1216 E California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125 Free. No registration required.
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