Morehead Planeterium's traditional star show, Carolina Skies runs Friday and Saturday evenings. The star show is one of the oldest shows at the Planetarium, and shows Planetarium visitors the heavens as it appears that night above North Carolina.
Morehead Planetarium also features shows for children and adults of all ages, including Sol & Company, Destination Space, Solar System Adventure, , and Magic Tree House Space Mission.
The Morehead Planetarium also has a NASA Digital Theatre. The Science LIVE!, show explores the foundations of science through demontrations that often involve audience members. They also have Science 360 programs that focus on bringing current events to visitors through audience interaction, images, video, and demonstrations.
If you and your family enjoy the Morehead Planetarium, be sure to check out Planetarium membership. Memberships start at $60 a year and include free admission to all regularly-scheduled planetarium shows for your immediate family, plus a number of free guest and parking passes.
Morehead Planetarium was only the sixth planetarium to be built in the United States. The Planetarium was designed by the architects who planned the Jefferson Memorial and it the most expensive building ever built in North Carolina at the time.
One of Morehead Planetarium's most popular shows, Star of Bethlehem premiered in 1949 and is the longest running planetarium show in the world. The show runs from mid-November until the beginning of January and takes a scientific look at the mysterious star that led three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Morehead Planetarium features a Carl Zeiss Model VI Planetarium Projector, installed in 1969. The planetarium dome is 44 feet tall and 68 feet in diameter. Planetarium shows are choreographed with the use of the Zeiss projector, video projectors and slide projectors. The planetarium can accomodate about 250 visitors.
On the top floor of the Morehead building is the Morehead Observatory. It houses a reflecting telescope that is operated by the UNC-Chapel Hill Physics and Astronomy Department.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
250 East Franklin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 962-1236
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