Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Supermassive Black Holes
2026-02-20 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-27 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)

One Sky, Many Eyes
2026-02-20 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-02-27 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-03-06 16:30 - 17:30

Teen Science Cafe: AI Applications
2026-02-20 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 February’s Teen Science Cafe! In this session, we’ll be discussing AI applications. Stay tuned for more information on this month’s speaker!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. Trivia 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.

Magic Tree House Space Mission
2026-02-21 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-02-28 10:30 - 11:30

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage
2026-02-21 12:00 - 13:00

The Longest Night: A Winter's Tale
2026-02-21 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-02-22 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-28 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-03-01 15:00 - 16:00

Messengers of Time & Space
2026-02-21 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-28 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-06 15:00 - 16:00

Carolina Skies
2026-02-21 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-02-22 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-02-28 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-03-01 16:30 - 17:30

Skywatching at Little River Regional Park
2026-02-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Little River Regional Park, 301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572, United States
Nothing goes together like a space enthusiast and a telescope! On Saturday, February 21, join Morehead staff and volunteers from Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) for awe-inspiring views of the night sky. With the help of our astronomy educators, you can catch close-up views of the waxing crescent moon and peeks of Jupiter.

This informal session is free and open to the public. You are welcome to arrive and leave at any time during the program. To make the most of your night, we suggest bringing along a cozy blanket or some chairs and your favorite snacks for a relaxing time.

For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, please leave your pets at home, even if they’re on a leash. The combination of darkness, crowds, expensive telescopes, and pets isn’t ideal, and pets won’t be allowed 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. We can’t wait to share the wonders of the night sky with you!

Have more questions about skywatching? Visit our FAQs page!

Skywatching FAQs

Solar System Odyssey
2026-02-22 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-03-01 13:30 - 14:30

Yoga Under The Stars
2026-02-25 18:00 - 19:00

Art in Bloom Community Experience
2026-02-27 14:30 - 2026-03-01 18:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Interpreting the zodiac element of fire

Friday, February 27 – Sunday, March 1

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is thrilled to help kick off the North Carolina Museum of Art’s (NCMA) annual Art in Bloom, presented by PNC Bank, as a 2026 Community Activation Partner! In the spirit of the NCMA’s commitment to Art for All, visitors can experience a stunning outdoor floral installation at Morehead from February 27 through March 1. Designed by Durham floral artist Adama Jay‑Harrison and her team at Lavish Leaf, the installation interprets the zodiac element of fire, creating a striking fusion of artistic imagination and science-inspired storytelling. This large-scale creation will frame Morehead’s Main Entrance, offering a vibrant and welcoming start to Art in Bloom festivities across the Triangle.

To complement the installation, Morehead educators will present special fire-themed demonstrations on the Science Stage throughout the day on Saturday, February 28. Guests can explore how fire works as a chemical reaction that releases energy as heat and light, and watch a classic “flame test” experiment that reveals how different elements produce different colors.

Community Experience Schedule

Friday, February 27: Floral installation opens

Saturday, February 28: Fire-themed science demonstrations

Sunday, March 1: Floral installation closes

Looking for other ways to engage with Morehead and NCMA?

On Saturday, March 14, we’ll join the NCMA and Raleigh Astronomy Club in the Museum Park for a free, family-friendly evening of skywatching. Learn more about the skywatching session.

Carolina Science Cafe: Songbirds
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Access to mates biased by parental favoritism in songbirds

In songbirds, the morphology of the vocal tract predicts song performance, and song performance affects access to mates. This, in turn, raises the question as to what causes this vocal-tract morphological variation. In March’s Carolina Science Cafe, Dr. Keith Sockman will discuss the recent analyses from his laboratory’s 20-year dataset on wild, free-ranging Lincoln’s sparrows at their montane field site in Colorado, which have revealed developmental constraints on the vocal tract, driven in part by parental favoritism toward some nestlings over their sibling nestmates.

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

Dr. Keith Sockman earned a PhD in Zoology in 2000 at Washington State University, studying reproductive flexibility in American kestrels. His postdoctoral work at The Johns Hopkins University focused on the neurobiology of mate choice and reproductive timing in songbirds. His initial appointment in the Department of Biology at UNC Chapel Hill was in 2004, at which point he started a long-term study on the behavioral ecology and reproductive decisions of wild songbirds. He enjoys cycling, camping, and spending time with his two teenagers.

See Dr. Sockman’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!

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

Science for All Youth Summit
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Explore STEM in new and exciting ways!

Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Registration closes on March 1

Join us for a fun-filled day of STEM exploration! Designed for students in grades 4–7 from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds, the Science for All Youth Summit offers hands-on activities led by college students from UNC‑Chapel Hill, NC State, and Duke. Past favorites include microscope discoveries, lemon-powered circuits, and biomechanics challenges.

Registration includes lunch, swag, and an event t‑shirt.

Thanks to the generous support of Gilead Sciences, this program remains accessible for families.

Come experiment, create, and discover something new!

Register for the Youth Summit today! Registration is open until March 1.

Learn more about the Youth Summit

Saturday Science Sparks — The Science of Attention: Juggling 101
2026-03-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Via Instagram, @juggling.club.unc

The Science of Attention: Juggling 101

Too many balls in the air? Join the Juggling Club of Carolina and the Educating for the Virtues of Attention initiative as they demonstrate the math, physics, focus, and fun behind juggling. On top of helping us keep our eyes (and minds) on the ball, this Saturday Science Sparks session offers a hands-on, in-motion opportunity for the whole family! Only at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.

Schedule

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Located in the Ivan R. King Gateway Gallery

Please note: there will be a midday break as the club members juggle their schedules.

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.
