Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Starry Nights: Summer Skies
2024-06-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-06-09 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)

Starry Nights: Fall Skies
2024-09-17 20:45 - 22:15, 2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30

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).

Starry Nights: Winter Skies
2024-12-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:30

Starry Nights: Spring Skies
2025-03-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-01 19:00 - 20:30

Artemis II Viewing Event
2026-04-01 18:00 - 20:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
(Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

To the Moon with NASA’s Artemis II

Astronauts are preparing to return to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years! As part of the Artemis II mission, crewmembers Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, and North Carolina-raised Christina Koch are set to embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon with a target launch date of April 1, 2026.

To celebrate, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special Artemis II launch viewing event before Starry Nights: Spring Skies, our special planetarium show for teen and adult learners. Exclusive to Starry Nights ticketholders, this special event is available at no additional charge and is subject to change due to weather and safety at the launch site.

Get Starry Nights tickets

Know Before You Go

NASA may postpone the Artemis II launch due to adverse weather conditions and safety concerns, which could result in the cancellation of the Morehead viewing event. The launch window opens on April 1, 2026, at 6:24 p.m. EDT, at which the launch can occur anytime within the next two hours. Learn more about NASA’s April mission availability.

In the event that the launch overlaps with the start of Starry Nights: Spring Skies (scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on April 1, 2026), we will finish cheering on the Artemis II before heading to the fulldome theater for the planetarium show.

The Artemis II viewing event at Morehead Planetarium is subject to change based on updates to the official launch schedule. In the event of a postponed launch, Starry Nights: Spring Skies will proceed as scheduled at 7 p.m.

Enjoy this video of Artemis II’s Christina Koch from Morehead’s 75th anniversary (2024).
