Many of the shows are produced in-house, with the use of a sound studio and an art staff. Still, despite their flash, automated shows can't take questions from the audience. More intimate live star shows are presented weekly, to provide visitors with a guide to the current night sky. Classes and workshops are available for students of all ages, as well as free observing sessions at nearby dark sites. While the lights of downtown Chapel Hill tend to make real research difficult at the observatory, it still serves as a valuable learning tool for astronomy students.
Guests can also visit the observatory, by reservation.
Since each observation takes only ten minutes, students will be able to take several observations during the course of a class period. The participating schools will be able to share images over the Internet. Students with a particular interest in astronomy may be given access to nighttime data taken by graduate students at the university. The four-meter telescope also will be available through remote automation, to cut travel costs for researchers, and to provide a more flexible observing schedule. Most observatories require researchers to reserve a block of several days, which can be expensive and an inefficient use of time for both the astronomer and the telescope.