MTSU’s March 3 Friday Star Party features ‘Inhabiting Other Worlds’ topic

A European Space Agency artist’s impression of human habitation on the moon. SciTechDaily reports U.S. astronauts in 2024 will take their first steps near the moon’s South Pole: the land of extreme light and darkness and frozen water that could fuel NASA’s Artemis lunar base and the agency’s leap into deep space. In the next Middle Tennessee State University Star Party, Physics and Astronomy instructor Greggory “Gregg” McPherson will present “Inhabiting Other Worlds.” The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. (Photo/artist impression by European Space Agency/Pierre Carril)

MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy instructor Greggory “Gregg” McPherson will continue the spring 2023 semester’s Friday Star Parties March 3 with an out-of-this-world presentation.

McPherson will discuss “Inhabiting Other Worlds” starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, in Room 102 of Wiser-Patten Science Hall, 422 Old Main Circle.

Free parking is available behind Wiser-Patten, and a campus parking map is available at https://bit.ly/MTSUParking.

This undated photo shows the International Space Station, where NASA regularly studies the long-term effects of living outside of much of the Earth’s protection. The image will be part of Middle Tennessee State University Department of Physics and Astronomy instructor Greggory “Gregg” McPherson’s Star Party presentation at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. It will be followed by a telescope viewing by the MTSU Observatory, weather permitting. (Photo by NASA) — This undated photo shows the International Space Station, where NASA regularly studies the long-term effects of living outside of much of the Earth’s protection. The image will be part of MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy instructor Greggory “Gregg” McPherson’s Star Party presentation at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. It will be followed by a telescope viewing by the MTSU Observatory, weather permitting. (Photo by NASA)

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

Dr. Greggory McPherson, Department of Physics and Astronomy instructor — Dr. Gregg McPherson

“With NASA’s Artemis missions on the horizon looking to ‘establish the first long-term presence on the moon’ and some companies looking ahead to other long-term space endeavors, I was struck by how the dreams of old science fiction are barreling toward becoming a reality,” McPherson said.

“In this talk, I wanted to share about some of the long-term needs of human life removed from Earth and how we might meet those needs and overcome some of the myriad of challenges that can arise from exploring various extreme environments found in our solar system and, time permitting, maybe beyond.”

After his talk, McPherson said Quinn Wilson, president of the MTSU Astronomy Club, will introduce NASA Joint Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Chuck Schlemm of Burns, Tennessee, who will bring an exhibit on human spacecraft and NASA missions to be displayed.

The spring semester Friday Star Party schedule also will include:

• April 7 — a topic to be announced, led by lecturer Irina Perevalova.

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

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