REMINDER: Starry Nights, a celebration of stargazing, returns to Hatteras Village on Saturday, February 3

February 3, 2024 | Island Features

Stars over the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Photo by Don Bowers.

Starry Nights, a celebration of stargazing on one of the darkest stretches of the East Coast, is returning to Hatteras village after a four-year hiatus on Saturday, February 3.

The afternoon and evening event, (which will be held at multiple spots along southern Hatteras Island), is sponsored by the Hatteras Village Civic Association and is free to the island community.

The mobile planetarium will be set up at the Hatteras Village Fire Station. Photo by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

With special visiting hosts from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center from UNC-Chapel Hill, attendees can expect plenty of fascinating and fun activities, including a mobile planetarium theater, guided skywatching, and additional activities for children to explore the stars in their own sandy backyard.

Events planned for Saturday, February 3, include the following:

Mobile Morehead Planetarium Shows: 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy a panoramic experience inside the Morehead Mobile Planetarium gazing at thousands of stars without ever leaving the Hatteras Village Fire Station. Planetarium shows are scheduled for 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Children’s Programming and Activities: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Hatteras Community Center will feature a range of hands-on activities designed just for kids, which are available from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Pre-sky gazing soup at the Civic Center: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
The Hatteras Village Civic Center will have hot soup available for anyone who wants to warm up before the evening’s sky-gazing event.

Guided Skywatching: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Attendees can head to the Sandy Bay beach access just north of Hatteras Village for a guided tour of Hatteras Island’s dark skies. Morehead educators will bring along the telescopes and will guide attendees through fun observations of stars, planets, moons, nebulae, and other celestial objects that are easily spotted from the shorelines of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Hatteras Island is fortunate enough to have one of the clearest skies in the country, which is why this event is a must for anyone who wants to garner a deeper appreciation of our night skies, and our home galaxy.

For more information, see the flyer below or visit the Hatteras Village’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HatterasVillage/.