UNC Science Expo
2023-04-01 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join us for one of the biggest celebrations of science in the state!

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, in partnership with the students and faculty at UNC, celebrate science with our community.

This annual celebration of science features more than 100 hands-on activities and science demonstrations lead by STEM students, researchers, and practitioners from UNC-Chapel Hill. The UNC Science Expo is your chance to get up close and personal with cutting edge science hands-on activities, demonstrations, games, and performances.

The UNC Science Expo is a signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival.

Follow Facebook event for updates

Spot, an agile mobile robot from Boston Dynamics wows the crowd Morehead Planetarium and Science Center as part of UNC Science Expo, Saturday, April 9, 2022.

Teen Science Cafe | Decoding the Structure of Birdsong
2023-04-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Teen Science Cafe is for you! This program is just for young adults, ages 13-18, and it’s free!

Birdsong is a unique form of animal communication, as it faces evolutionary pressures from mate selection and social learning, and it possesses a vast amount of diversity. There is still much left to understand about how this variation arises and its relevance in interactions between individuals of the same species.

This talk will examine an element of birdsong that has remained relatively enigmatic to researchers: syntax, or the sequence of notes within a song. By exposing wild male songbirds to songs with familiar and scrambled syntax, we can continue to decipher how information is conveyed in animal communication systems.

About The Speaker:

Emma Reinhardt is a graduate student in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joined Dr. Keith Sockman’s lab after graduating with a BS in biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2020. Emma has worked with a variety of organisms, ranging from yeast to lizards to crabs, before landing on songbirds. She is interested in understanding which elements of birdsong are most relevant in reproductive interactions. In pursuit of this, Emma spends her summers in the mountains of southwest Colorado to collect data on a population of Lincoln’s sparrows, a small, brown bird with a wildly complex song.

Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science LIVE! Stage.

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

Teen Science Cafe | Science Trivia Night
2023-09-15 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join us for our September Teen Science Cafe! 📚

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, September 15th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We will be joined by our 2023 – 2024 Teen Advisory Board for a fun-filled evening of science trivia jeopardy. The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.As a preview of the topics we will cover this year, each category of the trivia will be an area of science that we will be discussing during this school year. From astronomy to zoology and everything in between, there is something for everyone!

About our presenters:Morehead’s Teen Advisory Board is a group of local high school students who set the agenda, tone, and structure of the Teen Science Cafe program. As a way to get to know everyone, they are excited to put together an exciting evening of team-building fun to kick off the school year.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science LIVE! Stage.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Astronomy Workshop - Advanced Training
2023-10-06 18:00 - 20:30, 2024-01-12 18:00 - 20:30, 2025-01-24 18:00 - 20:30

Astronomy Workshop - Basic Training
2023-11-03 18:00 - 20:30, 2024-03-01 18:00 - 20:30, 2024-11-08 18:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-07 18:00 - 21:00

Noche de Estrellas | Stargazing Night at Peach Road
2023-12-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Peach Road Cultural Center, 911 Ileagnes Rd, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27603, United States
El viernes 8 de diciembre te invitamos a explorar el cielo nocturno con Noche de Estrellas, en colaboración con el Consulado de México en Raleigh, Morehead Planetarium Science Center, Red Global MX, Sigma XI, el Ayuntamiento de Raleigh, el Club de Astronomía de Raleigh y el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Carolina del Norte.

Esta noche contará con recorridos estelares con expertos bilingües en astronomía, además de chocolate caliente y actividades científicas en el interior para niños. Tenga en cuenta que este evento gratuito depende del clima y podría estar sujeto a cancelación.

Friday, December 8, we invite you to explore the night sky with Noche de Estrellas, in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh, Morehead Planetarium Science Center, Red Global MX, Sigma XI, Raleigh City Hall, Raleigh Astronomy Club, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

This night will feature Star Tours with bilingual astronomy experts, as well as hot cocoa and indoor science activities for kids. Please note that this free event is weather-dependent and could be subject to cancellation.

Skywatching at Little River Regional Park
2023-12-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Little River Regional Park, 301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572, United States
Join us from 8 to 10 p.m. at Little River Regional Park on December 13! With the guidance of a Morehead educator and members of Chapel Hill Astronomy and Observing Society (CHAOS), you’ll have the chance to view the sky via telescope, engage in hands-on astronomy activities, and take a laser-guided “star tour” of the night sky. There may also be an opportunity to see meteors from the Geminid meteor shower.

When joining us at this free event, we ask that you leave pets at home and, if you plan to hang out, bring chairs or blankets. Please note that weather can affect this event. Stay up-to-date via social media.

Find additional resources and FAQs on our Stargazing page.

Teen Science Cafe | Water Quality
2024-01-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Protecting underserved populations from lead and toxic metals in drinking-water.

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, January 19th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we will be joined by Dr. Michael Fisher from the UNC Water Institute to dive into the topic of water quality and community science.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that harms human health with disproportionate impacts on infants, developing fetuses, and vulnerable populations. As lead in gasoline, paint, and food has been progressively brought under greater control in recent decades, water remains an increasingly important exposure route.

This route is particularly important in private wells in the US, as well as in a variety of water system types in many low- and middle-income country settings worldwide. Recent work by researchers at UNC and their collaborators seeks to generate evidence to inform progress on lead-free drinking water in the US and worldwide, in alignment with 2030 sustainable development goals.

Meet Our Speaker

Dr. Fisher develops, evaluates, and applies technologies and methods for addressing under-recognized health concerns in water and sanitation, both in the US and internationally. This work focuses on three areas: 1) monitoring and evaluation of water and sanitation processes, infrastructure, and service delivery; 2) improving water and wastewater treatment; and 3) applications of implementation science and quality improvement methods to improving the performance of water and sanitation systems.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science Stage located on the 1st floor.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | State of Our Climate
2024-02-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, February 16th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we will be joined by North Carolina’s State Climatologist, Dr. Kathie Dello to hear about climate and weather trend in North Carolina.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

Join State Climatologist Kathie Dello for an overview of the past year in North Carolina’s weather and climate, including major events and impacts to agriculture and other sectors. This program webinar will include historical and future perspectives about our recent climate conditions and an opportunity for Q&A with the State Climate Office.

About Dr. Dello

Kathie Dello is the state climatologist of North Carolina and the director of the North Carolina State Climate Office. She is the 5th permanent director and first woman to hold this position at the NCSCO in the office’s history. Kathie also serves as the co-director of the NOAA Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessment (RISA) for the Carolinas, the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate, Health, and Equity (C3HE).

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science Stage located on the 1st floor.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

UNC Science Expo
2024-04-06 11:00 - 16:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
One of the largest celebrations of science in North Carolina returns on April 6!

As a signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival, the UNC Science Expo features over 100 booths, hands-on activities, games, science demonstrations, food trucks, and behind-the-scenes lab tours.

At this year’s Expo, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will also celebrate its 75th anniversary by bringing more excitement, including discounts from Franklin St. businesses, stage performances, prizes, and more. Come celebrate all the hard work and research of UNC scientists right here on campus!

More about the Expo

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2024-05-13 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. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. and stargazing begins at 8:30 p.m. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2024-06-10 21:00 - 23:00, 2024-07-15 21:00 - 23:00 | 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. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2024-09-09 20:00 - 22:00 | 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. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 7:30 pm and stargazing begins at 8:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Skywatching: Partial Lunar Eclipse
2024-09-17 22:15 - 23:15 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Following Starry Nights: Fall Skies on Tuesday, September 17, head to the Morehead Sundial to observe a partial lunar eclipse! This free skywatching event is open to the public and does not require an admission ticket to Morehead. We ask that you review parking information below or on our Plan A Visit page before arriving.

Learn more about skywatching

A lunar eclipse. (Credit: Jayme Hanzak)

About the lunar eclipse

The times below are for Chapel Hill, NC and surrounding areas. To find information on the lunar eclipse in your area, visit Time and Date.
Begins: September 17, 8:41 p.m.
Maximum: September 17, 10:44 p.m.
Ends: September 18, 12:47 a.m.

Parking

PARKING FOR CARS AND VANS
Parking for Morehead visitors is available in several area parking lots and on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.
The closest parking lot is located directly in front of the Morehead Building and is owned and operated by UNC as a campus-wide parking lot. This UNC lot will be under construction through early summer 2024. During this time, parking will be limited and only available in designated visitor spaces identified by visitor signage. Visitors can pay for parking using the ParkMobile app (Zone Code 4468) or the Digital Pay Station near our iguana. There is no cash payment option.
Parking on Saturdays and Sundays is free unless the lot is reserved for special events. After business hours and on weekends, other parking lots on the UNC campus may also have spaces available. Overnight parking is not permitted in this UNC lot.
We strongly encourage visitors to plan ahead and allow adequate time to find alternate parking (visit Park on the Hill for more information). Thank you for your understanding as the University works to create an improved parking environment at Morehead. Questions concerning this parking lot can be directed to UNC Transportation and Parking at 919.962.3951.
PARKING FOR BUSES
Buses and oversized vehicles may pull into the lot to drop off students, but must park off-site. For more information about bus parking, please see our Field Trips page (for schools) or Group Visits page (for non-school groups).

Skywatching: Views from The Durham
2024-10-21 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. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Stargazing begins at 7:30 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

This date is a reschedule for the canceled August 19 event.

Teen Science Cafe | Climate Change
2024-11-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, November 8th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! This is a special cafe done as a part of our climate action plan that was written during the North Carolina Youth Climate Summit earlier this year. Members of our Teen Advisory Board will be returning to the Summit later this year to give an update and plan for the future.

We will be joined by an engaging STEM professional to discuss climate change and helping young people understand what they can do. Part of the presentation will include a PG-13 climate documentary due to bleeped language. For our activity this month, the Teen Advisory Board will lead a community recycled art project!If you bring in any of the following items to help with the art project, you get a sticker!

Bottle caps (Plastic or metal)

Soda can tabs

Scrap paper

Newspaper

Straws

Plastic lids

The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Watch the trailer for the film that will be screened at Friday’s cafe!

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Science Stage.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night
2024-11-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join Us at Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night!

Experience the wonders of science in a sensory-friendly environment! On Saturday, November 23, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special event featuring interactive activities, engaging fulldome theater shows, 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

Skywatching at Little River Regional Park
2024-12-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Little River Regional Park, 301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572, United States
Join staff and volunteers from Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) for a skywatching event at Little River Regional Park!

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.

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

Have more questions about skywatching? Visit our FAQs page!

Skywatching FAQs

Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night
2025-03-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join Us at Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night!

Experience the wonders of science in a sensory-friendly environment! On Sunday, March 23, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special event featuring interactive activities, engaging fulldome theater shows, 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

Teen Science Cafe
2025-05-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Teen Science Cafe in January!

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, May 16th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We are still waiting to confirm our speaker, but we want to make sure you get this exciting program on your calendar.The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.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!The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Skywatching: International Observe the Moon Night | Observación del cielo: Noche Internacional de Observación de la Luna
2025-10-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Peach Road Cultural Center, 911 Ileagnes Rd, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27603, United States
Join Morehead Planetarium, Raleigh Parks, Raleigh Astronomy Club, and Consulado General de Mexico for a special skywatching event on International Observe the Moon Night! Learn about the Moon, constellations, and the planets in our Solar System through telescopes and other fun activities.

Skywatching will take place at Peach Road Park in Raleigh. 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.

Learn more about skywatching events

Únase al Planetario Morehead, Parques de Raleigh, el Club de Astronomía de Raleigh y Consulado General de México para un evento especial de observación del cielo en la Noche Internacional de Observación de la Luna. Aprende sobre la Luna, las constelaciones y los planetas de nuestro Sistema Solar a través de telescopios y otras actividades divertidas.

La observación del cielo se llevará a cabo en Peach Road Park en Raleigh. Esta es una sesión informal, por lo que puede llegar y salir en cualquier momento durante el programa. Sin embargo, si planea asistir, te sugerimos traer una manta o sillas y algunos bocadillos para que puedas relajarte bajo las estrellas.

Le pedimos que deje a todas las mascotas en casa, incluso a las que llevan correa. La oscuridad, mucha gente, los telescopios caros y las mascotas son una mala combinación. No se permitirán mascotas cerca de los telescopios.

Tenga en cuenta que este evento depende del clima. En caso de cancelación, proporcionaremos actualizaciones en nuestro sitio web y redes sociales.

Aprende más sobre observaciones del cielo

Skywatching at the Morehead Sundial
2025-11-23 17:45 - 18:45 | Morehead Planetarium Sundial, 220 E Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Join Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for free pop-up skywatching at the Morehead Sundial! 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. 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

Skywatching at Stagville — Geminid Meteor Shower
2025-12-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Horton Grove – Historic Stagville State Historic Site, 5925 Jock Road, Bahama, North Carolina, 27503, United States
Join staff and volunteers from Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS), and Historic Stagville for the peak night of the Geminid meteor shower!

To view meteors, all you need are your eyes. However, we’ll offer telescopes for you to catch Saturn, Jupiter, and other celestial sights. Please note that this event is weather-dependent. In the event of a cancellation, we will provide updates on our website and social media.

To attend and receive updates about this free event, please register using the link below. We hope to see you there!

Register

Know Before You Go

This outdoor event will take place in the open field at the Horton Grove entrance of Historic Stagville State Historic Site. Due to the high volume of people and limited parking, please carpool if possible.

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.

Have more questions about skywatching? Visit our FAQs page!

Skywatching FAQs

[CANCELLED] Astronomy Workshop - Advanced Training
2026-03-06 18:00 - 21:00
