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Media representatives are invited to experience the night sky in North Carolina’s first fulldome portable planetarium, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, when it visits three Gates County elementary schools next week.

Wednesday (Feb. 24)
9:30 a.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” (third grade/Whitney Riddick)
10:40 a.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” (third grade/Lisa Wilkins)
T. S. Cooper Elementary School
327 N.C. Highway 32 South, Sunbury

Thursday (Feb. 25)
9:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” (third grade/Karen Williamson)
12:30 p.m. and 1:40 p.m., “Moving All Around” (second grade/Betty Liles)
Gatesville Elementary School
709 Main St., Gatesville

Friday (Feb. 26)
9:30 a.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” (third grade/Millie DelToro)
10:40 a.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” (third grade/Debbie Byrum and Ruby Holder)
Buckland Elementary School
448 N.C. Highway 37 North, Gates

In the multimedia planetarium show “Earth, Moon and Sun,” students explore the relationship between the planet they live on, the moon that orbits it and the star that provides it with light and heat.  With reference to Native American stories and legends, this show helps students understand the movement and impact of Earth’s orbit.

In the live planetarium show “Moving All Around,” students will use their observational skills to explore the stars with a Morehead educator.  They will learn to identify major constellations and some of the major Greek and Roman myths associated with those constellations.

Note:  Because it is necessary to maintain a “night sky” level of darkness within the planetarium dome, flash photographs may be taken only before or after the planetarium program.

The PLANETS (Portable Learning for All North Carolina’s Elementary Teachers and Students) Portable Planetarium Program is a science education outreach effort of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. PLANETS delivers a traditional planetarium experience directly to elementary schools across North Carolina.  PLANETS planetarium shows and classroom activities are standards-based and interdisciplinary so teachers can take full advantage of this unique science experience.

The PLANETS dome stretches 20 feet in diameter and uses cutting-edge digital technology to reach students who may not otherwise encounter Morehead’s informal science education.

The PLANETS program was created in 2009.  It is supported by N.C. Space Grant, with additional funding from the Chatham Foundation.

PLANETS Web site: http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=PLANETS_overview.html

PLANETS media contact: Karen Kornegay, (919) 843-7952, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it