Feature photo by Lily Wilson
Story by Siri Reynolds and Lily Wilson
Despite the cloudy skies on Friday night, Middle Tennessee State University Department of Physics and Astronomy professor Chuck Higgins delivered the first Star Party lecture of the semester, titled “Solar Max and Space Weather.”
Once a month, a lecture is given to both students and community members interested in various astronomical topics. After the lecture, weather permitting, the group goes out to the campus observatory to view the night sky.
MTSU’s Star Parties have been going on for 26 years, and the observatory used to be located at what is now the Blue Raiders Softball Field.
Although the sky was too cloudy to observe following the lecture, Higgins encouraged all members of the community to take the opportunity to glance at the night sky.
“We want people to get interested in science or just have fun,” Higgins said. “We want people to look through telescopes if they’ve never had an opportunity to look through a telescope… Typically there’s some families that come with children, and they have a good time.”
Higgins began the lecture with an explanation of how to read a sky map, providing an example for the month of September. He also gave out astronomy and physics-themed buttons and NASA stickers as part of his effort to engage the community.
Preceding each Star Party, the Middle Tennessee State University Astronomy Club has a meeting where members can learn and experience various topics within astronomy, such as how to use different types of telescopes.
“If the weather’s nice, I always love running telescopes afterwards,” said Astronomy Club president Ian Alcox. “Running telescopes in general is always my favorite thing. I love the professors and I love their talks, but I love going out and getting my hands dirty with some telescopes and pointing at stuff.”
Around 2008, the observatory was constructed closer to the Wiser-Patten Science Hall, making the Star Parties more convenient. The next installation in the lecture series is on Oct. 4 and is titled “Nova Quest: Your Guide to Finding a Star’s Explosive Debut,” featuring professor John Wallin. But, if that isn’t exciting enough, the public is also encouraged to come up with their own ideas.
“We even do a survey. You can go to our website and fill out a form if there’s a subject you want to hear about,” Higgins said. “We actually take that into consideration in some of our future topics.”
Those interested in future Star Parties can watch old recordings, suggest topics and learn more at https://www.mtsu.edu/observatory/star_parties/
Siri Reynolds and Lily Wilson are contributing writers for MTSU Sidelines
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