Planetarium
The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, opened in 1949 as the first planetarium on a university campus in the world and the first in the Southern United States.
Funded by alumnus John Motley Morehead III, the facility was advanced for its time, featuring a Zeiss Model II star projector purchased from Sweden after WWII. The planetarium played a critical role in training astronauts for major NASA missions like Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz, with 11 of the 12 moonwalkers having trained there in celestial navigation.
The building, designed by the architects of the Jefferson Memorial, cost about $3 million, making it the most expensive in North Carolina at the time. Over the years, Morehead expanded from a planetarium into a broader science center offering educational programs about astronomy and other sciences.
It has hosted millions of visitors and now features modern fulldome digital projection, educational exhibits, and community outreach, maintaining a prominent role in science education and public engagement.
| Address | 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States |
| Founded | 10 May 1949 |
| Architecture Firm | Eggers & Higgins |
| Phone | +1 919-962-1236 |
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is located in North Carolina, United States.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is situated in the state of North Carolina.
The main phone number for the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is +1 919-962-1236.
The address of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States.
Yes, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is family-friendly and attracts visitors of all age groups.
Visitors usually spend a few hours to a full day exploring Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
Yes, there are several hotels and accommodations near Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in North Carolina.
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