Supermassive Black Holes
2026-04-26 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-03 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-17 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)

Carolina Skies
2026-04-26 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-02 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-03 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-16 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-17 16:30 - 17:30

Yoga Under The Stars
2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:00

Messengers of Time & Space
2026-05-01 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-08 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-15 15:00 - 16:00

One Sky, Many Eyes
2026-05-01 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-08 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-15 16:30 - 17:30

Saturday Science Sparks: Migration
2026-05-02 10:00 - 15:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Credit: The Avian Society at UNC-Chapel Hill

The Science of Migration

Calling All Bird Brains: Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at Morehead

In this Saturday Science Sparks session, explore the wonders of winged migration through the tools of a bird researcher! With the help of UNC’s Sockman Lab, the UNC Avian Society, and the New Hope Bird Alliance, you’ll get the chance to help the scientists uncover how the Earth’s seasons impact a bird’s journey, discover the diverse bird species of North Carolina, and talk with Gloria Gao ’27, Founder of the Avian Society, as you engage in hands-on activities and learn how to become a community scientist for the benefit of birds (and people!).

Included with paid admission and located in the Launch Lab.

Schedule

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Please note: there will be a midday break.

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.

Credit: New Hope Bird Alliance

Magic Tree House Space Mission
2026-05-02 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-05-16 10:30 - 11:30

Cosmic Colors
2026-05-02 12:00 - 13:00

Astronaut
2026-05-02 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-16 13:30 - 14:30

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage
2026-05-02 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-16 15:00 - 16:00

We Are Stars
2026-05-03 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-17 13:30 - 14:30

Carolina Science Cafe: US Vaccination Programs
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
US Vaccination Programs: Reasons for Optimism and Action

What unites Americans? Being vaccinated! More of us get vaccines than use smartphones, own cars, or watch reality TV. In May’s installation, Professor of Health Behavior Dr. Melissa B. Gilkey will share research on the parent advocates and clinical champions who make US vaccination programs possible. In addition, we will discuss ways to support these programs to ensure that we all have the opportunity to protect our families from measles, human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe is a free program that explores science topics making national and international headlines, offering 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

Melissa B. Gilkey, PhD, (she/her) is a Professor of Health Behavior in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. With research interests in cancer prevention and adolescent health, she studies ways to help healthcare providers communicate about vaccines, often with a focus on the HPV vaccine.

Learn more about Dr. Gilkey

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!

Teen Science Cafe: The Social Impacts of AI
2026-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
The Social Impacts of AI with Dr. Francesca Tripodi

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for the last Teen Science Cafe of the school year! In this session, we’ll be discussing the social impacts of AI with Dr. Francesca Tripodi.

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

About Dr. Tripodi

Dr. Tripodi is a sociologist and information scholar whose research examines the relationship between technology and society. She is an Associate Professor at the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill and the Founder of the Search Prompt Integrity and Learning Lab. She has twice testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (April 10, 2019 and July 16, 2019), to explain how search engines are gamed to spread conspiratorial logic and sow political polarization.

Along with her Co-PIs at MIT and Stanford, Dr. Tripodi received a National Science Foundation Accelerator Award in 2021 to study how people find information and build tools to enhance and enable search literacy. In recognition of her impact, Dr. Tripodi received the Award for Impact and Excellence in 2023 from the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington. In December 2023, Dr. Tripodi was a featured guest on an episode of Meet the Press to discuss the dangers of online education tools like PragerU. Her work has also been highlighted on All Things Considered (NPR), the Financial Times, and the Associated Press. She has also written about her work in Wired, Slate, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In addition to these featured segments, Dr. Tripodi’s research is regularly cited by esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME, and The Guardian. In recognition of her impact, Dr. Tripodi received the Award for Impact and Excellence in 2023 from the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington.

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. May’s discussion 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.

Star Families: Your Place in Space
2026-05-16 12:00 - 13:00
