SECU Daily Planet Theater
11am
Dr. Dan Caton
Light Pollution: an Update on the threat to Lose the Night Sky
Join us for an update on the increasing threat of losing the dark night sky due to satellite constellations, including BlueWalker and Reflect Orbital. Learn what the new Campus SHINE program is doing to assess and improve campus lighting.
12:30pm
Dr. Rachel Smith, Head Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, and Curator of Meteorites; Professor, Appalachian State University
Life and the Moon
Our Moon has been a source of human inspiration and adventure throughout history. The Moon is also a critical part of what keeps our planet habitable — unique among planets in the solar system. We will tap into the scientific and cultural influences of our Moon on the evolution of life and human endeavors that spur our species forward and how it continues to shape our connections to the cosmos.
2pm
Dr. Pierre Haenecour (Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona)
Rocky Asteroids: Time Capsules to Unlock the Origins of Our Solar System
Rocky asteroids are ancient fragments left over from the birth of our solar system, preserving pristine minerals, organic molecules and chemical clues from the formation of planets about 4.5 billion years ago. By studying these cosmic time capsules through telescopes, spacecraft and laboratory analysis of returned samples, we can uncover how planets formed, how water and organics reached Earth, and ultimately how our solar system and life as we know it began.
3:30pm
Tony Rice, Doug Lively, Michael Keefe, Alan Rich
NASA Ambassadors
NASA Is Returning to the Moon—Are You Ready for Artemis?
Join us for an inspiring panel discussion on NASA’s Artemis mission, humanity’s bold return to the Moon! We’re spotlighting the engineering behind the powerful SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft that will return astronauts, including North Carolina’s own Christina Koch back to the Moon.
Windows on the World
11:30am
Dr. Dan Caton
Appalachian State University
Remote Observing at AppState’s Dark Sky Observatory
We will show real-time remote connection to Appalachian state’s Dark Sky Observatory and who how we do our science.
1:30pm
Abby Gancz, Kyle Smith, Bob Alderink
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Star Stories and Science from Around the World
Gather around and explore the night sky through stories from cultures across the globe. From ancient myths and navigational tales to modern discoveries, learn how people past and present have interpreted the stars. See these stories come to life through live science demonstrations of celestial navigation technologies and planetary motion. This interactive experience blends dynamic storytelling, hands-on science, and cultural history to celebrate our shared human fascination with the stars.
2:30pm
Abby Gancz, Kyle Smith, Bob Alderink
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Star Stories and Science from Around the World
Gather around and explore the night sky through stories from cultures across the globe. From ancient myths and navigational tales to modern discoveries, learn how people past and present have interpreted the stars. See these stories come to life through live science demonstrations of celestial navigation technologies and planetary motion. This interactive experience blends dynamic storytelling, hands-on science, and cultural history to celebrate our shared human fascination with the stars.
2:30pm
Stories and Demos
3:30pm
Ron Monti
Raleigh Astronomy Club
What If Our Moon Didn’t Exist?
Life would be very different on Earth (and might not be possible at all) if it were not for our Moon. Come find out the many reasons why it is so important.
Saturn
11am
Michael P. Keefe
NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
Celebrating 35 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope
Discover the story of the Hubble Space Telescope from its origins and bold repair missions to the groundbreaking
science and awe-inspiring images it has delivered. Learn how Hubble transformed our view of the cosmos and what its future
holds in the era of next-generation space telescopes.
Noon
Tony Rice, Ian Hewitt, Christopher Rowe
NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors
North Carolina in Space
When Artemis II launches later this year, the crew will include Mission Specialist Christina Koch. An NC State graduate, Koch will be the latest in a long line of space explorers and companies with connections to North Carolina. Come learn about some of these many connections.
1pm
Matthew Funke, Solar System Ambassador
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Averting Armageddon
Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid hit the Earth and upset the global climate for years, resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs. They didn’t have a space program, but we do! What are we doing to avoid the same fate? Join to learn the answer to this question.
2pm
Tony Verdone, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
Raleigh Astronomy Club
Watching Blue Whales from Space!
Blue whales are the largest creatures to have ever lived on Earth and are endangered. NASA and NOAA are turning their eyes from the skies, using advanced satellite technology to track these ocean giants across the globe. Their mission: to protect blue whales from deadly ship strikes and ensure their survival for generations to come.
3pm
Seth Hetherington
Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observing Society (CHAOS)
How to find interesting stuff in the sky
Whether you want to explore the night sky by unaided eye, binoculars or a telescope, this talk will get you started finding what’s up. We will talk about getting oriented to the constellations, how to plan, locate and view the great stuff the night sky has to offer.
4pm
Marc Fusco, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
JPL/NASA
Human Spaceflight Report 2025
We’ll review the exciting things that went on in the world of commercial space in 2025. Dive into what SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, and what the rest are up to, to determine whether they had good or bad years. See how things in commercial space are blowing up — in a good way!
Uranus
11:30am
Doug Lively – Solar System Ambassador
NASA / JPL
The Moon Then and Now: From Apollo to Artemis and Beyond
A look at how lunar science and exploration have advanced since 1969. Learn how the upcoming missions are reshaping our goals for the Moon’s future.
12:30pm
Mike Keefe / Doug Lively – Solar System Ambassadors
NASA / JPL
Solar System Smack Down: Mars vs. Venus
The Earth, 3rd rock from the Sun, orbits between other rocky planets like Mars and Venus. Our speakers will compare and contrast various parameters of both Mars and Venus in a bid to determine which planet is the best option for eventual colonization.
1:30pm
Alan Rich NASA-JPL Solar System Ambassador
NASA-JPL
Interstellar visitors, Dangerous asteroids, Alien planets, and other things lurking up there
A look at surprise visits from interstellar comets and dangerous asteroids. Including alien planets and other strange things lurking up there!
2:30pm
Christopher Rowe
NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
The Weirdest Objects in the Universe
Black Holes are known as such massive objects that nothing, not even light, can escape their gravitational pull. That’s not the only “weird” object — take a tour through the universe to see just how weird things can get.
3:30pm
Ken Brandt Director, Robeson Planetarium/Solar System Ambassador
Robeson Planetarium and Science Center
The Evidence for Life on Mars
Mars continues to provide tantalizing hints that it may have been host to living things and it can be for now. What should happen in order to answer this question?
Neptune
11am
Tony Verdone, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
Raleigh Astronomy Club
How to Become an Amateur Astronomer
Discover how to explore the night sky like a true amateur astronomer by using simple binoculars to telescopes. Engage in hands-on activities with a planisphere to unlock the constellations and navigate the stars with confidence.
Noon
Alan Rich NASA-JPL Solar System Ambassador
NASA-JPL
Monster rockets. Comparing Starship with NASA’s SLS and Saturn V
Take a look into the world of monster rockets! We’ll be comparing today’s biggest — NASA’s SLS and the SpaceX Starship with the legendary Saturn V moon rocket.
1pm
Abbas Mokhtarzadeh, Amateur Astronomer
IAUCoNOC USA, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
Celestial Connections: Stories of the Sky for Everyone
Join us for an inspiring journey through the night sky, exploring how the stars have shaped cultures, guided daily life and inspired people around the world. Celebrate the contributions of women in astronomy and discover simple, hands-on ways for everyone — kids, families, and aspiring citizen scientists — to connect with the wonders above!
2pm
David Johnston
NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors
My Favorite Martian(s)
As night falls, in the great northern rockies, silent sentinels march across the sky in an endless dance marking the gradual shift from one season to another. Join us for an exploration of the night sky and follow us up onto the “Wolf’s Tail” to discover ‘Astronomy at Glacier National Park’.
3pm
Shawn D. Bayle, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador
NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador
Finding Another Earth: Discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope
Discover an overview of the history of exoplanet discovery, the Webb Telescope, and its orbiting sister observatories. We then take a deeper dive into recent discoveries probing the existence of potentially habitable planets and their moons. Learn about the next steps in exoplanetary science!
4pm
Jeff Qualls, JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador
JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassadors
Europa Clipper: Mission to an Ocean World
Join us for an update to the Europa Clipper mission that launched in October 2024. This will include the March 2025 Mars flyby for a gravitational assist, with testing of scientific instruments.