Join us for a Solar Max Telescope Viewing!

Last year, skywatchers around across North America were treated to spectacular displays of Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights in Earth’s atmosphere. These are caused by eruptions on the faraway surface of our Sun. Roughly every eleven years a spike occurs in solar activity as the Sun prepares to flip its magnetic poles. The number of giant (Earth-sized, even Jupiter-sized!) sunspots increases dramatically during this period. Throughout the 2025 period of Solar Maximum, Imperial Centre education staff and experienced observers from the Tar River Astronomy Club will safely display these giant sunspots for you, using our Sunspotter solar viewers and help you to directly observe the Sun through a specially-filtered solar telescope. A special Hydrogen-Alpha telescope will allow us to safely view giant erruptions of gas from the solar surface and flares along the Sun's visible edge. Join us and be amazed at a totally safe, close-up view of our nearest star. (Caution: Never look directly at the Sun.)

The NC Science Festival’s annual Statewide Star Party is made possible through the generous support of the NC Space Grant.