Middle Tennessee Space Society

09/03/2026

🖖🚀🖖

https://www.belcourt.org/events/startrek60/

September 4-7 is a celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary at Belcourt Theater. They will be showing the first 4 ST movies plus selected TV episodes.

On Saturday 9/5, I will be exhibiting my Middle Tennessee Space Society spacecraft exhibit “Apollo to Artemis and Beyond” from 1-11pm for both the 2:30 and 8:30 show guests and those in between.

I’ll also have several Star Trek spacecraft models for the Starfleet USS Athena fan table. Starfleet crew will be there for the 8:30 show and will have a transporter for photo opportunities.

Everyone is welcome to come anytime. I’ll be the red shirt hoping to make it through this away mission.

Chuck Schlemm
Middle Tennessee Space Society
NASA Solar System Ambassador

Full Series Pass: $40 ($30 Belcourt members) Need to redeem your Full Series Pass? Click here to select your showtimes. (Your pass is connected to your Belcourt account, so you will see a $0 ticket option if you are logged in). 60 years ago — from 1966 to 1969 — Captain James T. Kirk and the cre...

08/26/2026

Chuck Schlemm, MTSS NSS, organized a successful star party at Montgomery Bell State Park Friday August 21, 6-11 pm, at the ball field. Ranger Runkle estimated there were ~50 guests.

From 6:00 to 7:00, I did solar observing in white light before it slipped below the trees. We had views of 3 sunspot groups and about 6 spots rotating into view this week.

BSAS members Steve Hilliard, Tony Drinkwine, Donna Burgess, Javier Garcia and David Craig joined me for Moon and star viewing.

We had views of Polaris, Vega, the Double Double, Mizar & Alcor, Antares, M4 globular cluster, Albireo, Neptune, M11 Wild Duck Cluster, M29 Cooling Tower Cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy and more. The Moon was just past first quarter. I pointed out the Seas of Tranquility, Serenity, Fertility, Crises, the Apennine Mountains, Tycho and the south polar area.

We also pointed out constellations, asterisms and a lot of satellites. One set of about 10 satellites appeared to be Starlinks, but were further apart than previous trains I’ve seen.

We had a good time sharing the night sky.
Chuck Schlemm

08/25/2026

Hi all,

I presented my “Apollo to Artemis and Beyond” exhibit at Vanderbilt’s Welcome Week from 8:00 to 10:00 Saturday 8/22 in the Commons Center. I talked with ~75 of their expected 1,200 students and guests, many of whom came by to look at the spacecraft models. See pics below.

I spent much of the evening talking about the coming Artemis II mission and future Moon landings using models of SLS, Orion, SpaceX HLS, and the Blue Origin Blue Moon Mark 1&2 landers.

I showed the ISS and future Axiom Station. I discussed the planned deorbiting of ISS after Axiom’s commercial station is operational.

I told many students about plans for a lunar science base and SpaceX plans for colonizing Mars and that they were of prime age to be a part of those exciting exploration projects.

I gave away many space books and magazines and ISS and SLS bookmarks.

It was a fun event to be a part of, sharing space exploration with so many college students.

Chuck Schlemm
Middle Tennessee Space Society
NASA Solar System Ambassador

08/14/2026

Congratulations to Chuck and all members and those that support the mission of Middle Tennessee Space Society. 🚀🛰

08/07/2026

I presented the MTSS “Apollo to Artemis and Beyond” exhibit at the MNPS (Metro Nashville Public Schools) Science Content Day at Stratford STEM Magnet High School to ~50 STEM teachers from 10:45-12:15 on Wednesday 8/5.

I also showed the “Planetary Gravity Milk Jugs” demonstration and had several teachers take instructions to make their own.

I gave away many space magazines and books for the teachers to share with their students.

I told them about MTSS doing school space science presentations and BSAS public star parties.

About 10 teachers signed up to the MTSS.

07/21/2026

Apollo 11 Tribute: The Moon Is Calling Us Home (Official 4K/HD Audio)

Very inspirational song.

On July 20, 1969, humans first stepped upon the Moon. This cinemati...

07/20/2026

Chuck sent a historical look back. Thanks Chuck. 🚀

On July 20, 1969, 57 years ago, Apollo 11 made the first successful human landing and walk on the Moon.

On July 20, 1976, 50 years ago, Viking 1 made the first successful landing on Mars and went back first closeup photos of Mars.

07/18/2026

MTSS 2026 events 7/16/26

Please let me know if you want to help at any of them. Or if you know of any other possible events we can share our knowledge and excitement of space exploration.

January
1/9. Dyer Observatory Telescope Night. APOLLO TO ARTEMIS AND BEYOND exhibit. Canceled
1/31. Warner Park star party with BSAS. 6:00-8:00. Clouded out.

February
2/6. Vanderbilt University Commons Ball at the Commons Center 9:00-midnight. AAB direct with ~60 of ~1500.
2/13. “G”alentines Craft Fair at Montgomery Bell Lodge. 4:30-6:30 Sun, Jupiter & 3 moons, Saturn, Titan. ~25 viewers.
2/19. Davidson Academy Makers Faire. 5:30-7:30. AAB direct with ~50 of ~250.
2/21. Engineering Week at Adventure Science Center. 9-5:00. AAB direct with ~150 of their 1,328 guests.
2/21. Shelby Bottoms Star Party 6:30-8:30 pm. Clouded out.
2/28. Shelby Bottoms Star Party 6:30-8:30 pm. ~120 of ~500 guests.
2/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

March
3/9. HAL5 SLS Program in Huntsville. 5-7:00. DNA
3/21 Fairview Recreation Center star party with BSAS. Telescope observing. 8-10:00. ~250 viewers.
3/29 Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn. “The Planets”. AAB 1-5:00. ~100 of ~1300 guests.
3/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

April
4/1-10 Artemis II around the Moon.
4/11 Bells Bend Outdoor Recreation Expo with BSAS. 8-4:00. DNA
4/12. Yuri’s Night. Anniversary of 1st human spaceflight 1961 and 1st space shuttle flight 1981. No event.
4/18. THE MARTIAN at Belcourt Theater. 1-6:00. AAB & Mars rovers. Spoke with ~120 of ~300 guests.
4/23. Stoner Creek Elementary STEAM Night 5-7:00. AAB. Spoke with ~100 of ~800 guests.
4/24. Star Trek 60th Anniversary at Adventure Science Center AAB 7-10:00pm. Spoke with ~100 of ~350 guests.
4/25. Bells Bend BSAS star party. 8:30-10:30. ~300 viewers.
4/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

May
5/1 Montgomery Bell SP star party. Solar viewing 6-8:00. Star viewing 8-10:00. 12 viewers.
5/23. Warner Park star party with BSAS. 9-11:00. Clouded out.
5/29 Full Moon Pickin’ Party 6-10:00. Telescope viewing. Venus, Jupiter, Moon. Clouded out.
5/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

June
6/5 Montgomery Bell SP star party. Solar viewing 6-8:00. Star viewing 8:30-11:00. ~50 viewers.
6/19-20. Star Wars ICCC’26 Imperial Commissary Collectors Convention. Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro. 10-4:00. AAB direct with ~200 of ~5400 guests.
6/26 Full Moon Pickin’ Party 6-Kim 10:00. Telescope viewing. Venus, Jupiter, Moon. Clouded out.
6/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

July
7/20. Apollo 11 Moon landing day.
7/24. Full Moon Pickin’ Party 6-10:00. Telescope viewing. Venus, Moon
7/25. Bowie Park star party 9-11:00.
7/31 Montgomery Bell SP star party. Solar viewing 6:30-8:30. Star viewing 9-11:00.
7/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

August
8/5. Nashville Public School Science Content Day. AAB.
8/14. Full Moon Pickin’ Party 6-10:00. Telescope viewing. Venus, Moon
8/15 Bells Bend Star party with BSAS. 8:30-10:30
8/21 Montgomery Bell SP star party. Solar viewing 6:00-7:30. Star viewing 8-10:00.
8/27 Dyer Observatory Lunar Eclipse 8-10 pm.
8/? Warrior Con at Fort Campbell 11-5:00.
8/? Dyer Telescope Night. Canceled.

September
9/8? Star Trek 60th Anniversary.
9/11 or 12. Outside Con’25 at Montgomery Bell SP 8-10 pm.
9/12? Warner Park star party. 8-10:00.
9/17. STEAM at the Parthenon. 4:30-6:30.
9/19 International Observe the Moon Night at US Space & Rocket Center, AAB, 5:30-8:00 pm.
9/19. ? Naturefest in Fairview’s Bowie Nature Park. 9-4:00. Space exhibit and Solar viewing.
9/25. Full Moon Pickin’ Party 6-10:00. Telescope viewing. Venus, Saturn, Moon
9/? Harding Academy STEM Night. 6-7:30.
9/? Dyer Telescope Night.

October
10/10? Bowie Park Fall Fun Day.
10/10? STEAM Festival at Discovery Center in Murfreesboro. 12-4:00.
10/16. Montgomery Bell SP star party. Solar viewing 4-5:00. Moon viewing 5-6:30. Star viewing 7-10:00.
10/17. BSAS Star Party. 7-9:00.
10/24? Bowie Park Trunk or Treat. Astronomy
10/24? Boofest in Dickson Holland Park 5-8:00. Moon and Saturn viewing.
10/31? Haunting at Henslee Park in Dickson 6-8:00. Moon and Saturn viewing.
10/? Mound Bottom Harpeth River State Park star party with BSAS? 7-9:00?
10/? Dyer Observatory 8-10 pm.

November
11/14. Bells Bend star party with BSAS. 6-8:00.
11/? Harpeth Harvest Festival at Hidden Lake 10-3:00 astronomy exhibit.
11/? Dyer Observatory 7-9:00 pm.
11/? Gateway Elementary Space Day. 9-3:00.

December
12/12. Shelby Bottoms star party 6-8:00 with BSAS.
12/18? “Winter Solstice” at Warner Park Nature Center 4-7:00. Viewing and astronomy exhibit.
12/? Dyer Observatory 8-10:00 pm.

DNA- Did Not Attend
AAB- APOLLO TO ARTEMIS AND BEYOND exhibit

06/22/2026

Hi all,

I represented MTSS at the ICCC’25 (Imperial Commissary Collector’s Convention) predominantly Star Wars collector’s convention on Friday 6/19 and Saturday 6/20 from 9:00 to 6:00 at Murfreesboro’s Embassy Suites Hotel.

I presented my “Apollo to Artemis and Beyond” spacecraft exhibit including a Saturn V, LEM, Skylab, STS, ISS, SLS, Orion, and SpaceX’s Dragon, Falcon, Starships and Artemis 4 Moon lander. I showed Blue Origin’s New Shepard, New Glenn and Blue Moon landers, NASA’s X-59 “quiet” supersonic jet, Boeing’s Starliner, Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket and Axiom Space’s space station. I also presented a proposed Artemis Moon base and a SpaceX Mars colony.

I had models of the Mars rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter, Hubble and Webb telescopes and the Voyager probes. I also had a few Star Wars and Star Trek models on display.

I spoke directly with about 200 of their estimated 4,500 guests, many of whom looked at various portions of my exhibit. I met some very interested people and a few “out of this world” characters. See photos below. I talked briefly with John Ratzenberger, Cliff Clavin on Cheers, about Artemis, SpaceX and Blue Origin rockets.

I gave away many NSS, Planetary Society and astronomy magazines.
Everyone was having a good time. I plan to be back next year.

Next events:

Friday 6/26 6-10:00 pm is telescope viewing at the Edwin Warner Park “Full Moon Pickin Party” outdoor concert.
I’ll start with solar sunspot viewing and then move to the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and stars after dark. This is a ticketed event.

7/3-4 I may do public solar and star observing at local Independence Day celebrations.

Hoping for clear skies.

Chuck Schlemm
Middle Tennessee Space Society
NASA Solar System Ambassador

06/08/2026

MTSS at Montgomery Bell State Park star party 6/5

Chuck Schlemm, with MTSS and BSAS, arranged a successful star party at Montgomery Bell State Park Friday June 5, 6-10:30 pm, at the ball field. Ranger Runkle said there were an estimated 50 guests.

From 6:00 to 7:00, Steve Hilliard and Chuck Schlemm did solar observing in white light and H-alpha with 10 walk up guests before it slipped below the trees. We had good views of 8 sunspot groups and Steve had a great view of a prominence I estimated at 20,000 miles high and 60,000 miles wide!

I found and showed Venus and Jupiter while Steve showed last glimpses of the sun. We saw Venus at about 65% gibbous phase which many guests were able to see. Jupiter showed its stripes in the blue sky and as the sky darkened we could see the 4 Galilean moons with Europa and Ganymede almost looking like one.

Other BSAS members brought their scopes and helped show the night sky to our guests.

The clouds and haze were intermittently blocking our views, but we did have views of Polaris, Vega, the Double Double, Mizar & Alcor, Antares, M4 globular cluster, Regulus and more. We also pointed out constellations, asterisms and several satellites. One guest told me the Big Dipper is known as the "Seven Stars of the North“ in Korea.

7/31 is our next planned Montgomery Bell star party. Hoping for clear skies.

Chuck Schlemm
Middle Tennessee Space Society
Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society