Time’s the theme of Smith’s March 15 MTSU Star Party talk
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.
