September Monthly Meeting

Date: September 18, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: TAMU Physics Teaching Observatory Classroom, Fishtank Road, College Station, TX

Program: THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE TO A THEORY OF EVERYTHING
What does the motion of the planets, a lifeguard on a beach, and a chaotic pendulum have in common? This talk will describe a basic principle of physics that underlies optics, classical mechanics, general relativity, quantum mechanics as well as basic notions of symmetry and conservation.

Speaker: Mark Spearman, PhD
Mark Spearman has been observing stars with a telescope for almost 60 years. During that time, he obtained a BS in physics and a PhD in industrial engineering, was a professor at Northwestern University, Georgia Tech, and department head at Texas A&M University, started and sold Factory Physics, Inc. and built the Regina Caelorum Observatory in rural Robertson County. He joined the American Association of Variable Star Observers in 2014 and has submitted more than 700 observations of variable stars, supernovae, and exoplanet eclipses.

He is married to Blair, and they have three grown children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

The meeting is open to the public.

Dr. Mark Spearman at his Regina Caelorum Observatory in rural Robertson County.

Reminder: It's time to pay dues for the 2026-27 calendar year.

Directions: - Traveling from George Bush Dr.
1. From George Bush Drive, cross over FM 2818. (You will have to turn right at the light at the intersection of FM 2818 and George Bush Drive, get in the left lane and turn left at the first traffic signal to make the U turn to travel in the south bound lane of traffic on FM 2818.
2. Turn right on George Bush Dr West.
3. Turn left on Nuclear Science Rd.
4. Follow Nuclear Science Rd around the airport.
5. Turn Left at the Nuclear Science Center
6. Follow the road past the main gate.
7. This road will end in the parking lot of the TAMU Physics Teaching Observatory Classroom.