Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

MAH | Supernova!
2020-06-23 10:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Massive stars end their lives with a bang! We’ll discuss what a supernova is, show you an easy demo you can do using materials in your own home, and teach you to identify stars that will eventually go supernova.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | "Where's Orion?"
2020-06-18 10:00 - 10:30
“Where’s Orion?”: the relationship between the seasons and the sky

Why can’t you—or anyone else on our planet—see the constellation Orion the Hunter in the current night sky?

According to Greek myth, it’s the fault of Orion’s enemy, the Scorpion. We’ll tell that story, then we’ll explore the science behind how Earth’s orbit around the Sun determines when we can best see certain star patterns. We’ll also find out why our days are so long and our nights so short at this time of year in the northern hemisphere.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | June Carolina Skies
2020-06-16 10:00 - 10:30
We’ll tour the June sky as it appears from North Carolina and show you how to identify planets and stars you can see from outside your own home on the next clear night. Make sure you check out the star chart for this month.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

Teen Science Cafe | Bugs in Bugs
2020-06-11 17:00 - 18:00
This week we’ll be joined by Megan Damico for a discussion about BUGS! More specifically, Megan will talk about how different factors – like diet and age – can influence the composition of insect gut microbiomes. Do you know what’s even cooler? She studies all of these things using honey bees!

About Megan: Megan Damico is a third year PhD candidate in Environmental Health Sciences at UNC Greensboro. When she’s not studying, she loves bird watching, reading, and hiking in the Appalachian Mountains.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | Is there intelligent life beyond Earth?
2020-06-11 10:00 - 10:30
Do aliens exist? The Drake Equation provides a way to ponder the possibility of intelligent life in the universe. As a group, we’ll work together to use this equation to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations that we might be able to communicate with in our own galaxy.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | Eclipses
2020-06-09 10:00 - 10:30
According to a Korean story, eclipses happen when a king’s fire dogs try to steal light from the Sun or Moon. We’ll tell that story, explain the science behind what causes solar and lunar eclipses, and simulate upcoming eclipses visible from North Carolina.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

Teen Science Cafe: Searching for Earth 2.0 and other Worlds
2020-06-05 17:00 - 18:00
Is there another world out there suitable for humans? How are humans exploring space to find these worlds and how do they determine their viability? Chat more about these questions and more during a very special Teen Science Cafe with Charlotte Minsky.

About Charlotte: Charlotte is a recent graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying planetary science and the history of science. Her research focuses on extrasolar planets – planets orbiting stars outside our solar system – and how to find and characterize them so that we can better understand all planets and look for potential signs of life. Next year, she will be pursuing an MPhil in the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, followed by a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

Teen Science Cafe: Blocks and Codes
2020-06-04 17:00 - 18:00
Join us for a conversation with Jessica Amsbary, who will talk about STEM learning opportunity gaps and why starting STEM learning early is important. She will explain how STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE) are planning to teach foundational computational thinking concepts to very young children with differing abilities by sharing a working draft they are developing focused on a series of activities for young children with “blocks and codes.”

About Jessica: Jessica Amsbary is a postdoctoral research scholar at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She is currently working on a project focused on engaging all young children, early childhood professionals, and families in STEM learning experiences. She specifically is working with some of her team members on adapting simple coding and computational thinking activities for young children with differing abilities. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Sciences and Special Education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: Black holes
2020-06-04 10:00 - 10:30
Black holes aren’t just in science fiction. These mysterious objects really exist—including in our own Milky Way galaxy. We’ll learn what a black hole is, where they lurk in our night sky, and why it’d be a really terrible idea to visit one.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

Carolina Science Cafe | CBD oil: a therapeutic cure-all?
2020-06-03 18:00 - 19:00
CBD, an extract from the cannabis or marijuana plant, is gaining attention. Once known as a “hippie’s disappointment,” CBD has now been labeled as a therapeutic cure-all, but its popularity has outpaced the science. How much do we know? Join us for a fascinating discussion of research findings by a team at UNC who are one step closer to treating a rare brain disorder using CBD.

Speaker: Bin Gu, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

More about Bin and his research here: https://www.med.unc.edu/neuroscience/cbd-may-alleviate-seizures-benefit-people-with-neurodevelopmental-conditions/

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 6:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 6:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | The Sun: the star of our solar system
2020-06-02 10:00 - 10:30
What is the Sun and what is it made of? Just how big is it? How does it compare to the stars we see at night? How do scientists study the Sun? We’ll explore these questions and hitch a virtual ride on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to find out what more we might learn about our closest star.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

360° Video Premiere: One Giant Leap Short
2020-05-29 10:00 - 10:30
This 360 short is a part of a co-production with the Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota. Using archival recordings of the momentous moments of the Moon landing, One Giant Leap is an immersive view that explores what this event meant to the generation that experienced and discusses what might be the world’s next “giant leap”.

Please note the length of this video is just under 6 minutes.

Instructions

Use your mouse and touchpad on your computer to click and drag inside the video. You can also move your phone from left to right or right to left to view the video in all different angles. (*This show can also be viewed using any VR headset or Google Cardboard.)

Teen Science Cafe: Everyday Biomechanics +Bioengineering
2020-05-28 17:00 - 18:00
Biomedical engineering has a long history that spans more than 3,000 years. Simple crutches and splints are some of the earliest and most basic forms, but humans have made significant progress since then. Prosthesis, artificial organs, and even your favorite wearable tech (smart watch anyone?!) all rely on biomedical engineering research to be successful. Join us for this virtual Teen Science Cafe with Sandra Strangeland-Molo who will talk about biomechanics in everyday life, as well as her research in bone tissue engineering.

About Sandra: Sandra is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and researches biomechanics and bone tissue engineering. Her examines how strokes alter bone composition, as well as, fabricating synthetic bone grafts.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: Training astronauts in North Carolina
2020-05-28 10:00 - 10:30
NASA astronauts are headed to the International Space Station today in the first launch of humans from U.S. soil in nearly a decade. Michael Neece (aka Meteor Mike) will explain how Morehead Planetarium trained many of the early NASA astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: Greek Myths & the Spring Sky
2020-05-26 10:00 - 10:30
We’ll combine science and storytelling and learn to find some of the constellations in the current night sky that are associated with Greek myths. You’ll hear how the bears Ursa Major and Ursa Minor got their really long tails, why Corvus the Crow will eternally regret telling a lie about a water snake, and why Hercules is the reason the stars of Cancer the Crab are so dim.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

360° Video Premiere: Jeepers Creepers Short
2020-05-22 10:00 - 10:30
Trapped in a giant semi-transparent dome, you watch as a single fly buzzes aimlessly above and finally comes to a rest on top. As the lights hauntingly flicker, a cockroach scurries over to the fly and you suddenly realize that you’re not alone – the entire dome is filling up with hundreds of creeping, crawling, slithering insects. Can you identify any of them?

*This fulldome 3 minute short is not recommended for the easily bugged out.*

Please note the length of this video is about 2.5 minutes.

Instructions

Use your mouse and touchpad on your computer to click and drag inside the video. You can also move your phone from left to right or right to left to view the video in all different angles. (*This show can also be viewed using any VR headset or Google Cardboard.)

Virtual Teen Science Cafe: Women in Engineering Leadership
2020-05-21 17:00 - 18:00
Join us for this Virtual Teen Science Cafe edition with Engineering Manager, Kendra Settles. We’ll talk about women in engineering leadership, and discuss how simple circuits play a role in our lives. Kendra will also show a fun and simple circuit activity that you can try at home!

About Kendra: Kendra works as an Engineering Manager with Siemens in Wendell, North Carolina. Kendra received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a M.S. in Engineering Management. In her role, she manages an Electrical Design Team and specializes in Teaching Simple Circuits and Power Distribution.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: The Sky is a Time Machine
2020-05-21 10:00 - 10:30
The sky is a time machine! The deeper you look into space, the farther back in time you see. Explore the scale of our universe, and find out just how far (and how far back in time) you can see.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: Pluto
2020-05-19 10:00 - 10:30
Where is Pluto in our sky? How was Pluto discovered? Why did it get booted from the planet club? We’ll hitch a virtual ride on NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft to visit and learn about everyone’s favorite former planet.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

360° Video Premiere: Tales of the American South
2020-05-15 10:00 - 10:30
This immersive planetarium show highlights some of the unique stories about the American South, and explores the South’s complicated past, the present, and its hopeful future.

*Please note that this show may not be suitable for children under 12 years of age.

Instructions

Use your mouse and touchpad on your computer to click and drag inside the video. You can also move your phone from left to right or right to left to view the video in all different angles. (*This show can also be viewed using any VR headset or Google Cardboard.)

Virtual Teen Science Cafe: So You Think It's Your Chance?
2020-05-14 17:00 - 18:00
So You Think It’s Your Chance – Are You Prepared for Success in High School, in College, in Life?

Getting ready for college involves developing a mindset that includes an awareness, preparedness, and readiness for success. Join us in this workshop with Linwood Webster to talk about the value of high-impact opportunities and practices both during your high school and college educational paths, and in solid preparation for post-graduation success as an adult.

About Linwood: Linwood Webster, an Academic Advisor at UNC Chapel Hill for over 16 years, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in Academic Advising, College Counseling, and Career Coaching. With over 24 years of higher education educational experiences, Linwood possesses a B.A. in English-Media/Journalism from N. C. Central University, a Master’s Degree in Information Science (M.S.I.S.) from UNC Chapel Hill, and Master’s degree (M.Ed.) in Counseling, clinical mental health, from N.C. State University.

MAH | Skywatching: See the International Space Station
2020-05-14 10:00 - 10:30
Find out what the International Space Station is, who’s currently living on it, and how YOU can see the space station fly over tonight (May 14).

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: May Carolina Skies
2020-05-12 10:00 - 10:30
We’ll tour the May sky as it appears from North Carolina and show you how to identify planets and stars that you can see from outside your own home on the next clear night. Make sure you check out the star chart for this month.

Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

360° Video Premiere: The Longest Night
2020-05-08 10:00 - 10:30
“The Longest Night: A Winter’s Tale” is a one-of-a-kind fulldome planetarium show that captures its audience with a timeless fable of courage, generosity and renewal. Its story explores the concept that winter is a time for Earth to rest, waiting for new growth in the spring.

Its star, a young girl born into a family of nomadic storytellers, embarks on a simple quest that leads her to a dragon’s nest. What will she discover there, and how will it help her save her village?

Read more about this original production here.

Instructions

Use your mouse and touchpad on your computer to click and drag inside the video. You can also move your phone from left to right or right to left to view the video in all different angles. (*This show can also be viewed using any VR headset or Google Cardboard.)

Virtual Teen Science Cafe: Oceans & Climate
2020-05-07 17:00 - 18:00
During this Virtual Teen Science Cafe, Alexandria Niebergall will be talking generally about the role that the ocean plays in moderating the Earth’s climate, the big research fields in oceanography today, and what a “day in the life” looks like for an early career oceanographer.

About Alexandria: Alex grew up in California and graduated with a B.A. in Marine Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 2016. Alex is currently a second year PhD student at Duke University studying ocean biogeochemistry and the role that marine microbes play in the ocean carbon cycle.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.

MAH | Skywatching: Anyone Out There?
2020-05-07 10:00 - 10:30
Have you ever wondered if there is life anywhere besides Earth? We want to explore this question with you during this Morehead At Home session. We’ll use a planetarium view of our night sky as a backdrop, and discuss the prospects for life elsewhere in our own solar system, as well as how we find other solar systems.

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

Carolina Science Cafe: The Science of Connection & Living Well During Pandemic Times
2020-05-06 18:00 - 19:00
Insights from the UNC Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory

How do positive emotions accumulate and compound to transform people’s lives for the better? What do experts think about the impacts of physical distancing on our well-being and the new normal? Join us online this Wednesday, May 6 at 6pm as Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and members of her lab discuss research into how positive emotions affect people’s thinking patterns, social behavior, health, and physiological reactions.

About Dr. Frederickson: Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a leading scholar within social psychology, affective science (the study of emotion), and positive psychology. She has received more than 16 consecutive years of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, and her research and teaching have been recognized with numerous honors. Her online course on Positive Psychology has been attended by over 200,000 people.

Learn more about Dr. Fredrickson’s lab here: https://peplab.web.unc.edu/

Check out a short video about her research here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWnqREJFrYk&feature=youtu.be

MAH | Skywatching: Your Guide to the Moon
2020-05-05 10:00 - 10:30
When can you see the Moon in the sky? What does it look like close up? How does its appearance change from day to day? Has anyone ever been to the Moon?

We’ll discuss these questions, and share a Lithuanian story about the Sun and Moon during this Morehead At Home session!

*Please Note: Registration is not required. The Zoom link will not be live until 10:00 a.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 10:00 a.m. and try again.

360° Video Premiere: Take Flight
2020-05-01 10:00 - 10:30
Join uniquely-animated brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright for a full-throttle adventure through the history and into the future of aeronautics! You’ll take a look at the science, pilots and inventors that allowed humans to take to the skies, and learn about the four forces of flight — lift, weight, thrust and drag. Read more about this show here.

Instructions

Use your mouse and touchpad on your computer to click and drag inside the video. You can also move your phone from left to right or right to left to view the video in all different angles. (*This show can also be viewed using any VR headset or Google Cardboard.)

Virtual Teen Science Cafe: Tackling Climate Change
2020-04-30 17:00 - 18:00
Tackling Climate Change: Where are we now and how do we move forward?

Join us for a conversation with Lauren McRae who will discuss climate change and the ways scientists are looking to combat it within the next decade.

About Laren: Lauren is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry, Materials Division at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research involves computationally and experimentally exploring materials that have applications in electric vehicle batteries.

*Please Note: The Zoom link will not be live until 5:00 p.m. If you’re having trouble accessing it, please reload the page at 5:00 p.m. and try again.
