MTSU Star Party features 50th anniversary of moon landing, rocks

A return of moon rocks and soil and a discussion about the upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of the NASA Apollo 11 moon landing will highlight the 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy Star Party.

The event will be led by lecturer Irina Perevalova in Room 102 of Wiser-Patten Science Hall.

Friday Star Parties are a way for the department to bring MTSU, Murfreesboro and surrounding communities together. There will be a lecture followed by telescope viewing outdoors, weather permitting. Children are welcome to be a part of the Star Party experience.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees should dress accordingly for the outdoor portion.

Along with the show-and-tell portion with the moon rocks and moon dust, Perevalova plans a 40- to 45-minute event that will cover highlights from the July 20, 1969, moon landing by U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930-), the first humans to ever land on the moon.

“We’ll try to make it interesting, have some activities for children and answer questions that people have,” said Perevalova, who first brought the special moon rocks collection to MTSU in 2013. They will remain at MTSU for a short time, she said.

For more information, call 615-898-2130.