About November 2025 Events
Join lovers of astronomy and physics from across the city for a week of FREE and family friendly space-themed events.
Mark your calendars for the events below!
sunday, november 16
City of Astronomy Science Festival
12:00 pm -4:00 pm
Pasadena Convention Center
We kick off our week of events with the City of Astronomy Science Festival. This afternoon will feature science demonstrations, hands-on activities, creative displays, interactive VR demos, solar telescopes, and more at the Pasadena Convention Center. Science demonstrations will include “build a comet”, “solar s’mores”, infrared cameras, radio telescopes, plasma and electromagnetic experiments, and more. We will have representatives from the major astronomy and physics institutes across Pasadena and beyond to educate and engage about the world of physics and astronomy. There will also be public-level science presentations every 30-minutes covering black holes, exoplanets, galaxies, space weather, and AI!
The event will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center (in the conference center and on the western portion of the plaza in front of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium — see photo above). Street parking is available as well as in the paid lot across the street (under the Pasadena Paseo). Event is free and open to the public! No reservations required.
Science Presentation Schedule
12:00 pm - Anjali Tripathi - “Planet Quest”
12:30 pm - Joanna Piotrowska (Caltech Astro) - “AI in Astrophysics”
1:00 pm - Gabe Muro (Caltech Astro) - “What is Space Weather?”
1:30 pm - Sam Rose (Caltech Astro) - “White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes”
2:00 pm - Allison Matthews (Carnegie Observatories) - “Tuning into the Cosmic Radio”
2:30 pm - Gabriele Vajente (LIGO) - “When Black Holes Collide”
3:00 pm - Cameron Hummels (Caltech Astro) - “How Do Galaxies Form?”
3:30 pm - Mat Kaplan & Sarah Al-Ahmed (Planetary Society) - Astronomy Trivia
Monday, november 17
Astronomy on Tap
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dog Haus Biergarten, Old Town Pasadena
Astronomy on Tap is a global phenomenon where professional astronomers give informal science talks in local bars with accompanying pub trivia and interactions with the public. Each event consists of two 20-minute public science talks, guided stargazing with telescopes, astronomy-themed pub trivia with cool prizes, and we have professional scientists on hand to discuss space science with interested audience members.
Eva Kostadinova, Professor of Physics, Auburn University
”Dusty Plasma: From Fusion to the Rings of Saturn”
Oak Nelson, Research Scientist, Columbia University
”Using Magnets to Build a Star on Earth”
wednesday, november 19
Watson Lecture
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech
Free pre-registration required for attendance.
Caltech welcomes you to the Watson Lectures, an engaging lecture series in the historic Beckman Auditorium, where you will hear from scholars, scientists, and engineers on the forefront of discovery who are expanding knowledge, tackling society's most pressing challenges, and inventing the technologies of the future.
Ashwin Vasavada, Project Scientist, Mars Science Laboratory
”Thirteen Years in the Dust: How a Robot Showed that Mars was One Habitable”
Evening Schedule:
6:00 pm - Activities and music. Food, drinks, and books available for purchase.
7:00 pm - Doors open.
7:30 pm - Talk and Q&A.
8:30 pm - Post-talk concession and conversation.
thursday, november 20
Astronomy on Tap
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dog Haus Biergarten, Old Town Pasadena
Astronomy on Tap is a global phenomenon where professional astronomers give informal science talks in local bars with accompanying pub trivia and interactions with the public. Each event consists of two 20-minute public science talks, guided stargazing with telescopes, astronomy-themed pub trivia with cool prizes, and we have professional scientists on hand to discuss space science with interested audience members.
David Schaffner, Professor of Physics, Bryn Mawr College
”Understanding the Sun in our Lab”
Mario Manuel, Research Scientist, General Atomics
”Ignition and Inertial Fusion Energy”