MTSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will be featuring two First Friday Star Parties — the first virtually Oct. 2 and the other Dec. 4 — during the fall semester.

Professor Eric Klumpe will bring “Physics 101, Marvel Style — Gravitation Part 2” to a virtual audience from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Klumpe’s presentation is available to the general public and MTSU community.

Go to Zoom.us in the web browser; click on “Join a Meeting;” enter 961 0670 1428 for the ID and “stars’ for the passcode.

MTSU Star Parties are free. They are an opportunity for physics and astronomy faculty members to share with the public and MTSU students, faculty, staff and children interesting observations from the universe.

For now, because of COVID-19, the presentations are held remotely. Also, viewing from the MTSU observatory is on hold for now as well.

Dr. Eric Klumpe

Dr. Chuck Higgins

Professor Chuck Higgins will finish the semester Dec. 4 with the talk topic “The Great Winter-Solstice Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.”

Klumpe said the Dec. 4 Star Party may be on-site if the COVID situation improves, but a final decision will be made at a later date.

For more information, call the department at 615-898-2130 or reach Klumpe by calling 615-898-2483 or email him at Eric.Klumpe@mtsu.edu.

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