Final MTSU Star Party of the semester hosted by physics, astronomy departments – Sidelines Online (subscription)

Photo by Eric Goodwin / Assistant News Editor

Astronomy and Physics Professor Eric Klumpe provided a lecture on eclipses Friday night in the Wiser-Patten Science Hall as a part of MTSUs First Friday Star Party series.

The lecture, titled Funky Fiziks in Film, addressedmovies involving eclipses and the upcoming solar eclipse that will occur on Aug. 21.

Klumpe explained how a solar eclipse occurs when the Earths moon passes in between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow across the face of the Earth. While these eclipses take place about twice a year, this one is special.

The place where (the moons shadow) touches the Earth is the continental United States. And the path, which is very narrow, includes Tennessee, he said.

Murfreesboro lies along the path of totality, meaning the sun will be obscured almost completely in Murfreesboro for a few moments.

Klumpe said the moons shadow is just a little pinpoint of darkness, and we happen to be on that path.

The eclipse, whose path of totality hasnt crossedthe Middle Tennessee regionsince 1478, will occur at roughly noon. The moon will block part of the sun for about three hours, culminating in totality for about one and a half minutes at around 1:30 p.m.

The next eclipse like this wont occur until the year 2566.

Klumpe also talked about movies in pop culture that feature solar eclipses and their hard-to-catch inaccuracies.

For example, in the 1985 film, Ladyhawke, the solar eclipse moves from left to right across the sun. Klumpe explained how the movies setting in the Northern Hemisphere means the moon should pass from the right side of the sun to the left when observed from the Earth.

Klumpe also talked about the eclipse scenes in the 1949 movie, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court, and the 2002 movie, The Wild Thornberrys Movie.

Monty Hershberger, 43, came to the star party for the first time on Friday.

It was all very enjoyable, Hershberger said. I enjoyed (Klumpes) humor and the clips that he used to talk about it. So, it was fun.

Hershberger said he and his family will prepare for the August eclipse by hanging outside and enjoying a picnic.

Klumpe, who used to host all of the star parties when the series began, recommended attendees to take an astronomy course at MTSU regardless of their major.

Youre going to learn a lot of things youve never thought about before, he said.

To contact News Editor Andrew Wigdor, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.

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Final MTSU Star Party of the semester hosted by physics, astronomy departments - Sidelines Online (subscription)