CHATTANOOGA, TN – Recent advances in the power of telescopes have given astronomers more insight into planet formation than ever before. Now, a peek behind the planetary curtain is coming to Chattanooga State Community College. 

On Tuesday, April 9, astronomer Dr. Charles Law will come to the ChattState main campus to teach students and other guests about the planet formation process, touch on recent observational findings, and discuss the future of studying planet formation. 

All told, the two-day event will kick off with a Great American Solar Eclipse watch party on April 8. The party will be held from noon to 5 p.m. and will include safety eclipse viewing glasses, astronomy experts, free food, and live music. It will be held at the ChattState amphitheater. 

On April 9, events begin at 6 p.m. with a reception in the ChattState Health Science Center, room 1000. Dr. Law’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in HSC 1087. After the lecture, attendees are invited to a star party in the HSC parking lot starting at 8 p.m.

Dr. Law is a NASA Hubble Fellowship Program Sagan Fellow at the University of Virgina, where he works as a researcher. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harvard University 

“The lecture looks back at our cosmic origins,” Dr. Law said. " If we want to understand where the solar system came from—understand why our life evolved and why we are here—we can now address those questions with actual observations.” 

Titled “A Revolution in Planet Formation: The ALMA Era and Beyond,” the lecture is provided through the 2024 Harlow Shapley Lectures Series and funded by the American Astronomical Society and the NASA Network for Community Colleges.