Morehead reopens with new shows

Morehead Planetarium will reopen on Friday to show off its new fulldome digital video shows, made possible thanks to a $1.5 million donation from GlaxoSmithKline.

The new super-high-definition system will create an immersive environment where visitors are surrounded by the sights and sounds of the planetarium show. The seating also has been switched up for better sight lines, according to a Morehead press release.

It's the same kind of technology that's used at museums such as the National Museum of Air and Space, the American Museum of Natural History and the Griffith Observatory. The new system means Morehead also can expand its showings by leasing shows from other planetariums. On tap for this spring is "Astronaut" from the National Space Centre in England and "Black Holes: Journey into the Unknown" from Museum Victoria in Australia.

And there's more news from Morehead ...

The center will host two science forums (probably better for high schoolers and up) this month. At 7 p.m. Thursday, the focus will be "Aftershocks: The Science of Earthquakes." At 7 p.m., Feb. 11, a forum is scheduled to discuss recent contradictory guidelines for breast cancer screening.

Summer camp registration opens Feb. 15 for the general public (but noon Feb. 8 for Morehead members).

Romance will be in the sky during "Carolina Skies: Valentine Edition" from Feb. 12 through Feb. 14.

And Morehead will host two skywatching sessions this month. They are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 19 at Little River Regional Park near Hillsborough and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Jordan Lake State Park. These are great for kids, especially the sessions in the winter, which are earlier than the spring and summer (because it gets dark out earlier).