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NC Statewide Star Party

The 2024 North Carolina Science Festival features the Statewide Star Party as a signature initiative, supported by North Carolina Space Grant.

During this twelfth annual Statewide Star Party, 36 hosts will offer public skywatching events across North Carolina from Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8. 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. Hosts are provided with a Star Party kit of hands-on activities and NASA resources on this theme.

This year’s Star Party theme is Sun and Moon, in honor of the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

However, in North Carolina, this will be a partial eclipse as the state is not in the path of totality. It will roughly last about 2.5 hours from 2:00 – 4:30 PM ET in NC. At maximum eclipse at 3:15 PM ET, about 70-85% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.

Find the exact time for % maximum eclipse for your location:

Eclipse Map

About the star parties

Star party participants provide the curiosity, and host sites provide the telescopes. Hosts lead hands-on activities from the star party kit that help visitors learn about the sun, moon, and eclipses.

Statewide Star Party
An attendee looks through the telescope to view the night sky at the Outer Banks star party event. Credit: NC Science Festival