Skywatching Sessions

Skywatching

Under a starry night sky, enjoy:

  • telescopic views of beautiful objects, including planets, nebulae, star clusters and, of course, the Moon,
  • an informal tour of the constellations with a Morehead educator,
  • constellation myths and legends, and
  • experienced observers available to answer your questions about astronomy.

Our monthly skywatching sessions are free and open to the public! Check the "News" listing on our home page or call Guest Relations at 919-962-1236 on the day of the skywatching session to be sure weather conditions will permit us to host this outdoor activity.

Skywatching sessions are usually on Saturday nights at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area (Ebenezer Church section), and directions to this site are posted on this page.

Occasionally, Morehead hosts skywatching sessions at other locations, including Little River Regional Park. These skywatching sessions are listed below in a separate chart.

Curious about what to expect during a skywatching session? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about skywatching with Morehead.

Please note: Some sky objects may not be visible during an entire session, due to rise and set times.

JORDAN LAKE
Date Time Notes
Saturday,
November 17		 6–8 p.m. Mars, Moon, Jupiter
Thursday,
December 13		 8–10 p.m. Geminid Meteor Shower, Jupiter
Saturday,
January 12		 6–8 p.m. Mars, Moon, Jupiter
Saturday,
February 16		 6:30–8:30 p.m. CANCELED
Saturday,
March 16		 8–10 p.m. CANCELED
Friday,
April 5		 9–11 p.m. NCSF Statewide Star Party
Saturday,
May 11		 8:30–10:30 p.m. CANCELED
Saturday,
June 15		 9–11 p.m. Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn
Saturday,
July 13		 9–11 p.m. Venus, Moon, Saturn
Saturday,
August 10		 8:30–10:30 p.m. Venus, Moon, Saturn

OTHER SITES
Date Time Location
Friday,
March 15		 8–10 p.m. Little River
Friday,
May 10		 8:30–10:30 p.m. CANCELED


Directions to Ebenezer Church Recreation Area

Directions to Little River Regional Park

Skywatching sessions are sponsored in part by:

and

CHAOS
Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society

Learn more about sky objects with Morehead's Constellation Close-up.

Learn about Morehead's skywatching sessions on WRAL-TV5 here