Time will be the subject of MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy associate professor Nat Smith’s presentation for the next Star Party at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 15.
The talk, which is titled “Something about Time,” will be held in Room 102 of Wiser-Patten Science Hall.
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.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees should dress warmly for the outdoor portion.
To find free parking after 6 p.m. and Wiser-Patten, visit http://tinyurl.com/MTParkingMap online. Handicap parking requires a state permit.
“Time is a mysterious thing, and no one really knows what it is,” Smith said. “You can’t go out and get a bucket full of time, for example, to analyze it.”
“I’m not going to talk about what time is,” he added. “Instead, I want to focus on more (and some less) practical questions.” They include:
- Why do we use hours, minutes, and seconds?
- Why does anyone need a clock that can measure time to billionths of a second?
- Are pulsars the best clocks in the universe?
- What’s the link between a good clock and finding your way from here to there (and back again)?
Smith said he will be discussing quartz clocks during the talk.
Children are welcome to be a part of the Star Party experience.
For more information, call 615-898-2130.
In addition to physics and astronomy, MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs. Physics and astronomy is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments.
