The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, one of the largest planetariums in the United States, fills thousands of visitors with knowledge and wonder each year. The Morehead Planetarium Building and grounds — complete with a 68-foot, domed Star Theater and Zeiss Model VI Star Projector, scientific exhibits and classrooms, 24-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope and observation decks, Visitors' Center, art galleries, rose gardens and the massive sundial were built for students of all ages with all interests.

The Planetarium shows teach the public about the night sky, lunar landings, the travels of the Voyager spacecraft, black holes, the Big Bang and more. Weekend matinees include shows for children and families alike. Many of the planetarium's shows are completely original, written and produced on location at the Morehead. The Morehead Planetarium Building was a gift of John Motley Morehead III (1870-1965), class of 1891, whose mission of educating the community lives on. Since 1949, the Star Theater has been a giant classroom for students, teachers, school groups, senior citizens, youth groups and the general public.

As the United State space program began, the Morehead provided training for U.S. astronauts from the Mercury program to the Apollo-Soyuz program. The building also houses special rooms for University functions, a 400-seat banquet hall, faculty meeting rooms and lounges, and facilities for administrations of Morehead Foundation programs. In 2010, the Planetarium received a $1.5 million gift from GlaxoSmithKline, supporting the conversion of the historic Star Theater from analog to fulldome digital video technology. In recognition of the gift, the theater was renamed the GlaxoSmithKline Fulldome Theater.