Media representatives are invited to experience the virtual night sky in North Carolina's first fulldome digital video portable planetarium, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, when it visits schools in Elkin and Mooresville this week.
Media representatives are invited to experience the virtual night sky in North Carolina's first fulldome digital video portable planetarium, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, when it visits schools in Elkin and Mooresville this week.
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.
Wednesday (Sept. 22)
C.B. Eller Elementary School
1288 C.B. Eller School Road, Elkin
10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In the multimedia planetarium show "Earth, Moon and Sun," third-grade 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, "Earth, Moon and Sun" helps students understand the movement and impact of Earth’s orbit.
Thursday (Sept. 23)
Coddle Creek Elementary School
484 Presbyterian Road, Mooresville
9 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
Third-grade students will experience the multimedia planetarium show "Earth, Moon and Sun" (described above).
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 and receives support from N.C. Space Grant, with additional funding from the Chatham Foundation and the University of North Carolina Provost Office.
PLANETS website: 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