MTSU professor Chuck Higgins helps initiate the Friday Star Parties for the fall semester on the topic of “Touching the Sun: The Parker Solar Probe.”

Higgins’ lecture, which is open to both the public and MTSU community, will be from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. To find parking near Wiser-Patten, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/parking/2018ParkingMap.pdf.

Star Parties, which are free, are a way for the department to bring the MTSU, Murfreesboro and surrounding communities together, and share topics regarding the solar system. After the talk, attendees will head to the MTSU Observatory for telescope observing if weather permits.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is a historic mission because it will come closer to the sun than any other spacecraft, Higgins said.

Named after physicist Dr. Eugene Parker and launched Aug. 12, the seven-year mission will study how energy flows from the sun. In particular, the spacecraft will fly into the corona, the outer atmosphere of the sun, and measure the properties of the solar wind.

Higgins recently spoke with some heliophysics experts at NASA. He will explain

how the spacecraft will survive the high temperatures and heavy radiation during the mission.

Higgins plans to show “some amazing movies of the sun,” do an audience participation demonstration of a solar flare and provide NASA handouts for the Parker Solar Probe.

“We are in a unique position to study the properties of stars

because we live so close to one,” Higgins said. “The Parker Solar Probe will help scientists better understand the solar wind and the space weather environment.”

Other Star Parties this fall include:

Oct. 5 — “The Great Southern Skies: A View of Space from Down Under,” led by associate professor Nat Smith.
Nov. 9 — “Life in the Universe,” led by instructor Irina Perevalova.
Dec. 7 — “Funky Fizix in Film: Creation of the Elements,” led by professor Eric Klumpe.

Children are welcome to be a part of the Star Party experience.

In addition to the astronomy website, the Friday Star Parties will be broadcast on ERC, Comcast Channel 9, on Wednesdays at 11 p.m. and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.

For more information, call 615-898-2130.

In addition to physics and astronomy, MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

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

Photo: The Parker Solar Probe, named for physicist Eugene Parker and launched Aug. 12, is a historic mission because it will come closer to the sun than any other spacecraft. (Graphic provided by NASA)