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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 students at two Surry County elementary schools next week.

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 students at two Surry County elementary schools next week.

Thursday (April 22)
9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Elkin Elementary School
135 Old Virginia Road, Elkin

Friday (April 23)
9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Franklin Elementary School
519 S. Franklin Road, Mt. Airy
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.

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, kck@unc.edu
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu

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