MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy professor Eric Klumpe will close out the monthly Star Party series for the fall semester with his “Funky Fizix in Film” lecture at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102.

First Friday Star Parties are a way for the department to bring the MTSU, Murfreesboro and surrounding communities together. The event will feature a lecture followed by telescope viewing, weather permitting.

This photo, courtesy of NASA.gov, depicts infrared echoes of a black hole eating a star. (Photo courtesy of NASA.gov)

The event, which is free, is open to the general public and MTSU students and faculty. To find parking and Wiser-Patten, visit http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap online.

Klumpe’s “Funky Fizix in Film” talks and Black Hole Trivia continue to be popular among attendees.

“Black holes are fascinating objects and they are occasionally used in science fiction films as a plot element,” he said.

“My talk is about discussing some of the more nuanced and less well-known properties of black holes — hence the name ‘Black Hole Trivia.’”

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of 11 departments or schools in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

For more information about the series or the astronomy program, call 615-898-2130 or visit www.mtsu.edu/programs/astronomy.

MTSU has more than 240 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

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