Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy continues its fall 2023 Star Party series with the second of four events later this week.

Assistant professor Jana Ruth Ford will be presenting “Small Worlds of Our Solar System” starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. Free parking can be found behind Wiser-Patten and other nearby lots.

Ford said her talk will center on dwarf planets, moons and asteroids, and there are some fascinating ones.”

Typically held on the first Friday of the month during the semester, the Friday Star Parties feature an assortment of interesting astronomy and physics topics from veteran faculty members.

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

The Friday Star Party schedule also will include:

• Nov. 3 — “Probing Dark Energy: The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope,” led by professor John Wallin.

• Dec. 2 — Topic to be announced, led by lecturer Irina Perevalova.

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

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