5 reasons to check out Morehead Planetarium this summer

This article was written for our sponsor, Morehead Planetarium

Summer is around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning how to keep your kids — and yourself — entertained on long summer days. Morehead Planetarium at UNC-Chapel Hill is a great option for a weekday or weekend adventure.

Here are five reasons Morehead should be on your summer bucket list.

1. It’s the perfect trip for any age group

"Morehead has a mission to make science for all," said Jamilia Martineau-Lopez, interpretive programs lead coordinator at Morehead.

"Watching families, in their many forms, come in to interact with the space is really special," said Martineau-Lopez. "Our audience on any given day is beautifully intergenerational."

From planetarium shows to interactive exhibits to do-it-yourself projects, family members of varying ages can find something to like. It’s fun and interactive for kids, but it also provides seating and accessibility for people who can’t be on their feet all day.

"If you’re scheduling a trip with elementary or middle school aged kids, you can easily spend two-plus hours in total with a planetarium show and star tour, a Science LIVE! demonstration, the exhibits, and the hands-on Launch Lab, for example," said Kenji Brantley, executive director at UNC Health and long-time visitor to Morehead. "Grab lunch or ice cream on Franklin Street, and it’s a great day."

2. There are new opportunities each time you visit

Morehead presents live star shows and multimedia cinematic events on a domed ceiling. In the darkness of the incredible Fulldome Theater, you’ll be transported from your seats and immersed in exciting learning adventures. Check the calendar to find times of the many shows that are offered. Some titles include:

• Astronaut lets you experience what it’s like to be an astronaut on a rocket launch, floating around the International Space Station, and inside the microscopic regions of the body.
• Carolina Skies is led by a Morehead educator, who shows stars, planets, and constellations in the night sky as they currently appear above North Carolina. You’ll also get to fly out of the solar system into the Milky Way and beyond.
• Mars: The Ultimate Voyage shows what it takes to get robots and people to the Red Planet and the necessity of creativity, communication, and collaboration to explore deep space.

You can also join storybook friends on a Magic Tree House Space Mission or be amazed by the Mysteries of Your Brain. Each show provides its own adventure and wonder.

3. New exhibits explore biology, biomedical engineering, and astronomy

While Morehead is best known for its planetarium and space-centric shows, it offers educational experiences throughout the science center.

"Our Breakthrough Hub highlights cutting-edge research happening here on UNC’s campus through hands-on exhibits," Martineau-Lopez said. "General admission tickets also include free Science Stage shows full of live science demonstrations and engineering challenges in the Launch Lab."

At the Launch Lab, open Fridays through Sundays, you can do a variety of hands-on activities designed to encourage experimentation. It’s these types of activities that help young children envision a path for a career that could include the life sciences, an ever-growing career field in North Carolina.

"Morehead Planetarium can make science real," said Brantley. "It gives kids a memory and a hands-on experience that can transform an early interest in science into something much more. It’s a great place to build a shared memory as a family, especially on a hot North Carolina summer day."

4. Important history is introduced through programming as well

Morehead emphasizes equity as it presents science and its history, something Martineau-Lopez noticed after visiting in 2016 to hear "Hidden Figures" author Margot Lee Shetterly speak at the opening of the Firsts in Flight: A Hidden History exhibit.

"As someone new to the museum field at the time, who happens to live at the intersections of a lot of marginalized identities, it was energizing to see an institution unafraid to openly discuss the harmful lack of representation across the field," Martineau-Lopez said. "Morehead’s dedication to equity in science education was a major reason why I decided to join the team."

The planetarium shows how "hidden figures" have changed science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and how it continues to commit to equity and inclusion.

5. You can become a member to save money and never miss a thing

You can visit all summer, and all year, with an annual membership. Depending on the level, membership includes admission for four or more family members to planetarium shows, Science Stage programs, and interactive exhibits as well as priority registration for summer camps, discount birthday parties, and a limited number of guest passes and parking vouchers.

"My kids have seen every show at Morehead, several of them multiple times," said Brantley. "It’s a great deal if you plan to come back multiple times."

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center also participates in the Association of Science and Technology Centers passport program, which means your membership includes admission and benefits at hundreds of other museums nationwide.

This article was written for our sponsor, Morehead Planetarium