Middle Tennessee State University‘s Department of Physics and Astronomy lecturer Irina Perevalova continues the university’s spring Friday Star Parties series with a special presentation on Friday, April 7.

Perevalova will present the topic “Plate Tectonics” starting at 6:30 p.m. April 7 in Room 102 of the Wiser-Patten Science Hall, 422 Old Main Circle.

Free parking can be found behind Wiser-Patten.

All Star Parties are free and open to the public and MTSU community. The format is a 30- to 45-minute lecture, followed by a telescope viewing by the MTSU Observatory, weather permitting.

Plate tectonics is the generally accepted scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements.

The theory, which solidified in the 1960s, transformed the earth sciences by explaining many phenomena, including mountain-building events, volcanoes and earthquakes.

The spring semester Friday Star Parties schedule will wrap up with the following presentation:

• May 5 — “The Power of Stars in Our Homes,” led by lecturer Neda Naseri.

The April Star Party is also part of the slate of events for the Alumni Spring Showcase, which is scheduled April 6-15. For the full calendar, visit https://bit.ly/alumshowcase23.

For more information about the Department of Physics and Astronomy, one of 11 in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, call 615-898-2130.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)