Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Yoga Under The Stars
2025-02-12 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-02-19 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-02-26 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-07 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-14 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-21 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-28 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-01 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) and 6 more dates

The Restless Universe (and the Periodic Table)
2025-04-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
About This Event

As a North Carolina Science Festival event, UNC’s Institute for Cosmology, Subatomic Matter & Symmetries invites you to Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for a special talk by distinguished speaker Shri Kulkarni of Caltech.

The Restless Universe (and the Periodic Table)

Following the Big Bang, the universe was uniform and devoid of chemistry – until stars forged the elements that makeup the periodic table. Astronomers have since uncovered numerous cosmic explosions, with supernovae being the most prominent.

The Palomar Transient Factory and its successor, the Zwicky Transient Factory (ZTF), have revolutionized our ability to detect these celestial events using cutting edge telescopes and advanced software. This talk will explore groundbreaking discoveries, from super-luminous supernovae to planets being consumed by aging stars, paving the way for the next generation of wide-field survey telescopes that will transform our view of the dynamic universe.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2025-06-17 20:30 - 22:30 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St, Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights! On June 17, experience stunning views, guided constellation tours, and craft cocktails, all while enjoying music from local DJs. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 8:30 p.m.

Views from The Durham is free and open to all ages. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2025-07-01 20:30 - 22:30 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St, Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights! On July 1, experience stunning views, guided constellation tours, and craft cocktails, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. In this session, Morehead astronomy educators will focus on the 5-day waxing crescent moon and Mars. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 8:30 p.m.

Views from The Durham is free and open to all ages. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2025-07-29 20:30 - 22:30 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St, Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights! On July 29, experience stunning views, guided constellation tours, and craft cocktails, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. In this session, Morehead astronomy educators will focus on the 4-day waxing crescent moon and Mars. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 8:30 p.m.

Views from The Durham is free and open to all ages. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2025-08-26 19:30 - 21:30 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St, Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights! On August 26, experience stunning views, guided constellation tours, and craft cocktails, all while enjoying music from local DJs. In this session, Morehead astronomy educators will focus on the 2-day waxing crescent moon with Mars nearby. Music begins at 7:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 7:30 p.m.

Views from The Durham is free and open to all ages. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2025-09-16 20:00 - 22:00 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St, Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States
Event Update

Views from The Durham is still on for September 16! While it will be too cloudy for telescopes, the Morehead crew will be under The Durham Hotel’s covered roof with stellar space-themed activities.

Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a stargazing night! On Tuesday, September 16, experience stunning views, guided constellation tours, and craft cocktails, all while enjoying music from DJ Gemynii. In this session, Morehead astronomy educators will focus on Saturn, which should be visible in the night sky with no moon to outshine it. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 8:30 p.m.

Views from The Durham is free and open to all ages. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

Webinar | Our 2025 Impact Report
2025-09-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
We’re excited to share Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s annual report! At 12:00 pm on Friday, September 26, join us virtually or in person as we talk about our impact during the 2025 fiscal year.

If you plan to join us at Morehead, you’re welcome to bring your lunch. We ask that you register online if you plan to join us via webinar.

This event is free and open to all. Please contact Andrew Amodei at aamodei@unc.edu or 919.843.3475 if you have any questions.

Register for the webinar

I AM: The Student Experience
2025-10-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Space Just for You

Need space to relax, reflect, and revive? We’ve got space for you. Come on out to Morehead Planetarium for an evening of wonder under the stars. GRAMMY®-nominated and award-winning artist, vocalist, pianist and composer Radhika Vekaria will take you on an unforgettable journey through the cosmos as she blends her amazing vocals and musicality with real and awe-inspiring imagery of our universe. If you attended Radhika’s performance in March 2025, you’ll want to come back and bring that friend who needs to experience this! Radhika will again showcase the music and imagery from the short immersive film I AM, then invite some special guests to talk about what it means to be in awe and wonder—and how these experiences support both body and mind. Finally, she will close out the program with a second live performance of her latest recordings. Stay for an exclusive meet-and-greet along with refreshments after the show. This space is absolutely for you.

RSVP on Heel Life

I AM: The Student Experience is free and open to UNC students with CLE credit available; RSVP is encouraged. This event is brought to you in partnership by UNC Student Wellness, UNC’s Parr Center for Ethics, and Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in support of UNC community wellness. UNC Student Affairs will be on hand with resources promoting healthy wellbeing and fun giveaways.

Teen Science Cafe: Healing Lahaina
2025-10-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for October’s Teen Science Cafe! In this session, we’ll be screening the documentary film Healing Lahaina, which addresses community advocacy and climate resilience through the personal experiences of survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires. Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. The screening will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

I AM: The Sound of Light Experience
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Leave the kids at home. This event is for adults 21+!

Join us for a private, unforgettable evening under the stars at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. We are thrilled to welcome back GRAMMY®-nominated and award-winning artist, vocalist, pianist and composer Radhika Vekaria to Morehead’s fulldome theater. Radhika’s soul-stirring melodies and the raw power of her voice, combined with real imagery of our place in space, create an alchemy of music, presence, and wonder. This exclusive event includes a live performance choreographed with immersive imagery of the cosmos.

Get Tickets

Tickets

Early Bird discount: $60 (available until October 10, 2025)

Regular ticket price: $75 (after October 10, 2025)

Member price: $60

Cocktail attire is suggested.

What’s included with your ticket

Access to Morehead exhibits

Light hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages

One drink ticket (Prosecco)

I AM screening + performance

Food and drinks are available until the performance begins at 8:00 pm.

Please note: No one under the age of 21 will be allowed into the event. IDs will be verified.

Get Tickets

Refund/Cancellation Policy

All ticket sales are final; refunds are not available for absent guests or unused tickets. Purchased tickets may be transferred to another guest 21+ for admission. However, requests for transfer must be made no later than the day prior to the date on the original ticket. Requests for transfer on or after the date of the original ticket are not accommodated. Morehead reserves the right to waive part or all of this refund policy if the event is cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected circumstances.
This is a 21+ event. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed into the event; IDs will be verified.

Code of Conduct

By entering Morehead or participating in our programs, guests acknowledge and agree to adhere to Morehead’s posted Code of Conduct.

Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night
2025-11-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Experience the wonders of science in a sensory-friendly environment!

On Sunday, November 2, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special event featuring interactive activities, an engaging fulldome theater show, captivating exhibits, and dynamic science performances. With changes made to fit various sensory sensitivities, this event is perfect for all ages and offers a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy science.

Learn More

Carolina Science Cafe: Balancing Act
2025-11-04 18:00 - 19:00
Balancing Act: The Science of Pain, Fatigue, and Falls in Aging

Now is the time for innovation in our efforts to engineer solutions to help people age gracefully – from preserving independence and enhancing community accessibility to preventing falls. In this talk, Dr. Jason Franz, a professor of biomedical engineering, will summarize the latest in the UNC Applied Biomechanics Laboratory’s use of principles from neural control, biomechanics, wearable sensing, and rehabilitation robotics to solve one of our society’s grand challenges.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe is a free program that explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Jason Franz (he/him) received his B.S. (2004) and M.S. (2006) degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech and, after serving as a staff scientist in PM&R at the University of Virginia, received his Ph.D. (2012) in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He then completed an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2015, Dr. Franz joined the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University and is now a Full Professor and Director of the UNC Applied Biomechanics Laboratory.

Dr. Franz’s research takes a mechanisms-based approach in rehabilitation engineering to develop solutions to help people age gracefully. He is the author of over 150 publications and currently serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects, all predominantly focused on rehabilitation engineering strategies to mitigate age- and disease-related mobility impairment and falls risk. He also serves as Faculty Director for Postdoctoral Success, where he supports the success, recruitment, and workforce development of postdoctoral trainees across the UNC School of Medicine.

View Dr. Franz’s Work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Meteor Mixer
2025-11-15 20:00 - 23:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Dance under the stars!

On Saturday, November 15, join us for an out-of-this-world night of dancing in our fulldome theater. With a DJ spinning a stellar lineup of music, hors d’oeuvres, and a selection of beer and wine, the Meteor Mixer is the perfect time to experience Morehead like never before.

Leave the kids at home. This event is for adults 21+!

Purchase tickets

What’s Included

Access to Morehead’s exhibits, Launch Lab, and fulldome theater dance party

Hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages

Two drink tickets (selection of beer and wine)

Pricing/Discounts

Early Bird discount: $25 (available until October 20, 2025)

The discount will appear once tickets are added to your cart.

Regular ticket price: $30 (after October 20, 2025)

Member price: $25

Food and drinks are available from 8 pm – 10 pm. Dancing in the dome is from 9 pm – 11 pm.

This is a 21+ event. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed into the event. IDs will be verified.

Purchase tickets

Skywatching at Little River Regional Park
2025-11-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Little River Regional Park, 301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572, United States
Join Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) for skywatching at Little River Regional Park! On this night, we’ll be focusing on Saturn’s nearly edge-on rings.

This is an informal session, so you can arrive and leave at any time during the program. However, if you plan to attend, we suggest bringing a blanket or chairs and some snacks so you can relax under the stars.

We ask that you leave all pets at home, even those on a leash. Darkness, lots of people, expensive telescopes, and pets are a bad combination. Pets will not be permitted near the telescopes.

Please note that this event is weather-dependent. In the event of a cancellation, we will provide updates on our website and social media.

Have more questions about skywatching? Visit our FAQs page!

Skywatching FAQs

Saturday Science Sparks: Stellar Gaming with UNC’s Young Worlds Lab
2026-01-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Explore with the experts during Saturday Science Sparks

Want to think like an astronomer? In our first-ever Saturday Science Sparks, UNC’s Young Worlds Lab will be in the Hidden Lives of Stars exhibit—ready to explore the cosmos with you! These astronomers, featured in the exhibit, will take visitors of all ages on their journey of discovery. Study the stars, ask questions, try science tools, and leave inspired!

Located at the Hidden Lives of Stars exhibit in the Polaris Gallery.

MORE is happening at Morehead this year

New for 2026, Saturday Science Sparks offers Morehead guests a closer encounter with current science. Covering topics like astronomy, the physics of juggling, and computer science, this program collaborates with community partners and academic clubs, bringing you up-close experiences in the exciting world of STEAM. Saturday Science Sparks is open to the public and included in admission. Mark your calendars for the second Saturday of each month!

Saturday Science Sparks: The Science of Puppy Love
2026-02-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
(Megan Mendenhall / Office of Research Communications)

Can humans love robotic dogs?

This Valentine’s Day, experience puppy love with Spot, UNC-Chapel Hill’s very own robot dog! Take the reigns and bring this computerized canine to “life,” while discovering the inner workings of how it moves and “thinks.” With the help of UNC’s Experimental Engineering Lab (EEL) and the Interactive Robotics and Novel Technologies (IRON) Lab, you’ll be able to explore how scientists and engineers craft robots to engage with the world. Join us as these incredible labs share their work, answer your burning questions, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at life as a scientist!

Located in the Ivan R. King Gateway Gallery.

MORE is happening at Morehead this year

New for 2026, Saturday Science Sparks offers Morehead guests a closer encounter with current science. Covering topics like astronomy, the physics of juggling, and computer science, this program collaborates with community partners and academic clubs, bringing you up-close experiences in the exciting world of STEAM. Saturday Science Sparks is open to the public and included in admission. Mark your calendars for the second Saturday of each month!

Learn more about Saturday Science Sparks
