MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University is in the thick of another Star Party season this spring, with monthly lectures and telescope observations slated through the rest of the semester.

Hosted through the Physics and Astronomy Department and held on the first Fridays of the month, the two-hour events feature a faculty presentation related to astronomy at 6:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the Wiser-Patten Science Hall followed by a telescope viewing at the nearby MTSU Observatory, weather permitting.

The MTSU community and the public, including children, are welcome to enjoy all Star Parties at no cost. Complimentary parking is available after 4:30 p.m. in the Judd-Sims lot, the James E. Walker Library lot, or other nearby lots on the north side of Alumni Drive between North Baird Lane and Womack Lane.

Ancient wisdom

John Wallin, physics and astronomy professor, will present Friday, March 6, on “Archeoastronomy: What did Ancient People Know About the Sky?”

“We might make the mistaken assumption that ancient peoples, without our modern technology, knew little about astronomy,” Wallin said. “In reality, however, we’ll discuss how they created accurate and in-depth mapping, calendars and culture around their observations of the cosmos.”

Wallin, who directs the Computational and Data Science Ph.D. program, takes annual academic trips to England with students to study one of the ancient world’s most well-known astronomical sites — Stonehenge.

“It’s fascinating to see how these ancient peoples used measurements and early scientific observation to construct monuments, sundials, places of worship in relation to the skies; how they developed a deep understanding of how the sky moved, the seasonal equinoxes, the locations of the planets and more,” he said.

In addition, Wallin said he and his wife visited ruins in Mexico over the winter holiday to explore how another early population, the Mayans, understood and connected with the universe beyond Earth.

“It is inspiring to see this evidence of astronomical understanding all across the world,” he said. “These ancient peoples were using pretty sophisticated mathematics.”

The department will put on two more Star Parties this semester:

• April 3 — Lecturer Erik Monson discusses “Everything, Everywhere, in 10³⁴ seconds or less: The Scales of the Universe.”

• May 1 — Instructor Irina Perevalova discusses a topic of the audience’s choice, to be determined.

Physics and Astronomy professor Chuck Higgins kicked off the spring Star Party season on Feb. 6 on the topic of “Who Speaks for Outer Space?”

Learn more about the Friday Star Parties at https://www.mtsu.edu/observatory/star_parties/. Learn more about the Physics and Astronomy Department athttps://physics.mtsu.edu/.

— Stephanie Wagner (Stephanie.Wagner@mtsu.edu)