Sun and Moon
Thanks to generous grant support from the North Carolina Space Grant, the 2024 North Carolina Science Festival will again feature the Statewide Star Party as a signature initiative.
During this 12th annual Statewide Star Party, 37 hosts will offer public skywatching events across North Carolina from Friday, April 5th to Monday, April 8th, 2024. Star Party hosts include state and local parks, colleges and universities, planetariums, science centers, nature centers, and libraries. About 3,500 visitors are expected to participate.
This year’s theme is “Sun & Moon” in honor of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. For North Carolina, this will be a partial solar eclipse lasting about 2½ hours, from roughly 2 to 4:30 p.m. At the maximum eclipse in NC, the Moon will cover about 70-85% of the Sun at roughly 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time. To find exact times and % maximum eclipse for YOUR location, check this map (Important: you must subtract 4 hours to convert UT to Eastern Daylight Time). Hosts are provided with a Star Party kit of hands-on activities and a limited number of eclipse glasses.
2024 Statewide Star Party Locations
Click here to find a Statewide Star Party event near you.
For more information, please contact:
Amy Sayle
Coordinator, NC Statewide Star Party
Email: starparty@unc.edu
The Statewide Star Party is made possible with the support of NC Space Grant and the NC Science Festival.
Click here for Star Party kit materials (including previous years)