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Media representatives are invited to a briefing Tuesday (Jan. 26) about the newly installed fulldome digital video system at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead officials will describe the fulldome digital video conversion, the biggest change to the planetarium in 40 years. The conversion places the planetarium on par with those at the National Air and Space Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, Griffith Observatory and other world-class facilities.

Tuesday (Jan. 26)
9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. – media briefing
Faculty Lounge

10:30 a.m. – renaming announcement
 Star Theater
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

Media representatives are invited to a briefing Tuesday (Jan. 26) about the newly installed fulldome digital video system at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead officials will describe the fulldome digital video conversion, the biggest change to the planetarium in 40 years. The conversion places the planetarium on par with those at the National Air and Space Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, Griffith Observatory and other world-class facilities.

The planetarium has been closed for the month of January for the installation of the new system. At the 10:30 a.m. event, UNC will announce that it is renaming the planetarium’s historic Star Theater in honor of the donor who made the installation possible. About 100 invited guests are expected to attend. Speakers will include Chancellor Holden Thorp, N.C. Speaker of the House Joe Hackney and a representative for the donor. The program will include a preview of Morehead’s new capabilities.

Immediately following the event, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., third-grade students from McDougle Elementary School in Carrboro and Charles E. Perry Elementary School in Roseboro will be the first schoolchildren in North Carolina to watch a fulldome digital video planetarium show at Morehead. During the show, media representatives may have opportunities for follow-up questions with event speakers.

Morehead will reopen to the public beginning Feb. 5.

Parking: Free parking is available in the Morehead lot for media while spaces remain; please tell the gate attendant you are covering the Morehead event.

Visual opportunities: Schoolchildren will be leaving the show soon after noon, with possibilities for live coverage during noon news broadcasts. A small group of schoolchildren will also participate in the unveiling of signs with the Star Theater’s new name during the 10:30 a.m. event.

Please note that flash or supplemental lighting for cameras cannot be used during the preview or show because it is necessary to maintain a “night sky” level of darkness within the planetarium dome while shows are being presented. Still images of show scenes are available.

Audio recording: Please contact Morehead at (919) 843-7952 on Monday (Jan. 25) about availability of a mult box.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center media contact: Karen Kornegay, (919) 843-7952, kck@unc.edu. Media representatives are asked to call ahead if they plan to attend.
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu

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