Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, with one of the largest planetariums in the United States, is located on the north end of the campus of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead's building and grounds, complete with a 68-foot-tall fulldome planetarium, exhibits and classrooms, 24-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope and observation decks, UNC Visitors Center, portrait gallery, rose gardens and massive sundial were built for students of all ages with all interests.Many of the planetarium's shows are original productions, written and designed by Morehead's production team.Non-credit classes for adults and children, special courses for teachers, summer camps for children, memberships for students, individuals, families and corporations, public viewings of astronomical events and public lectures keep the community involved in the center's activities.The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Building was a gift of John Motley Morehead III (1870-1965), class of 1891, whose mission of educating the community lives on. Since 1949, the planetarium has been a giant classroom for students, teachers, school groups, senior citizens, youth groups and the general public. As the United States space program began, the Morehead provided training for U.S. astronauts from the Mercury program to the Apollo-Soyuz program.