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Department of State

New Jersey State Museum

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State
Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin

Explore The Museum

Planetarium - Public Programs

Soar into space in the New Jersey State Museum’s Planetarium! With our Ultra-High Resolution 8K projection system and our 140 spacious, specially-designed reclined seats, your experience is sure to be comfortable and out of this world! Our dynamic and knowledgeable planetarium presenters will take you on tours of New Jersey’s skies and beyond.

Public Show Times:
Weekdays: Tuesday – Friday, 2:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm & 3:00 pm
Summer Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm

Public shows are roughly 50 minutes total, with full-dome planetarium films preceded by live star talks presented by planetarium staff. Shows for our visitors 8 and younger are roughly 30 minutes long with no pre-show star talk.

The Public Show Schedule changes monthly and is listed in our Calendar of Events. Also see our Calendar of Events to find out about our special public programming!

The last Saturday & Sunday of each month, a Spanish language show is available at 11:00 am.

Ticket Information:
Children 2 and under    -------------------------Free
Children 3 to 12    --------------------------------$5
Ages 13+    ------------------------------------------$10
Veterans/Seniors/Students    --------------$9
Groups of 15 or more    -----------------------$5 per person.
Families First Card or eWIC Card    ------Up to 4 Tickets Free

Advanced ticket sales are not available; box office opens 30 minutes before the first show

School/Group Visits

To schedule a school or community group visit to the Planetarium, call (609) 292-1382 or email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov

Happy Birthday from the New Jersey State Museum!

Bring your child to the Planetarium for their birthday and receive a free gift! Just tell the box office when buying tickets and give them the birthday child’s first name. They will give your child the free gift and the Planetarium will announce the birthday before the show! If you call three or more business days in advance, the Planetarium will also add a banner to the dome to celebrate! To add the banner, contact Jacob.Hamer@sos.nj.gov

Book a Private Show*

Experience our Ultra-High Resolution 8K projection system in an exclusive private show for you and your friends, family or community group. Reservations must be made three weeks in advance. Final head count and full payment is due two weeks in advance with no exceptions. Contact Reservations at (609) 292-1382 or email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov.

Private shows includes:

  • Show of your choice
  • Star talk before the show
  • Digital banner to celebrate your special occasion displayed on dome before the show
  • No minimum for group size

We offer two options:
1. During regular Museum operation hours: $300 for up to 40 people and $5 per person for each additional person up to 140. These private shows are only available on these days and times:

  • Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am and 10:30am
  • Tuesday-Friday: From 9:30am to 2:30pm, depending on availability

2. After-hours for an additional fee: $500 for up to 40 people and $5 per person for each additional person up to 140. After-hours private shows are available on these days and times:

  • Between 4:00pm and 8:00pm Tuesday-Sunday

*Please note: This option is for one show only. This is not a space rental. If your group requires planning for a business event including food, presentation stage, sound system or other special considerations you must contact NJSM.rentals@sos.nj.gov to secure a rental contract for use of space. Birthday parties cannot make private use of the public spaces in the building.

Planetarium Weekday Shows through May 2

Apr. 22 – 25, Spring Break Weekday Schedule

1:00 pm – Spark: The Universe in Us
2:00 pm – One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
3:00 pm – We Are Guardians – NEW!

 

Tuesday – Friday
2:30 pm
We Are Guardians – NEW!

Come get a view of our world from a satellite’s perspective! We Are Guardians is a visually stunning show that reveals how the Earth, its ecosystems, and its people are all intrinsically connected. From a single bumblebee to an expansive forest, discover how each component of our planet’s beautiful ecosystems fit together. Find out how satellites can help us monitor these environments, better understand the impact of climate change, and help us to protect our shared home!

 

Planetarium Weekend Shows through April 27

 

12:00 pm
Worlds Beyond Earth

Narrated by Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o, Worlds Beyond Earth tells the story of the surprisingly dynamic worlds that orbit our Sun. Based on authentic scientific data from groundbreaking space missions, the show takes viewers on an exhilarating adventure through our cosmic neighborhood. Immersive visualizations showcase the solar system with unprecedented accuracy, including a landing on the cratered surface of our own Moon, a dramatic flight through the swirling rings of Saturn, and soaring encounters with distant worlds of active volcanoes and buried oceans.

 

1:00 pm
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure

Best show for kids in grades 2 and below.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure begins on Sesame Street when Elmo's friend, Hu Hu Zhu, visits from China. Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu talk about some of their favorite constellations and realize we all see the same stars! Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu then blast off to the Moon where they learn that the Moon is a very different place from the Earth. They even pick the North Star as their friendship star to always remind them of their shared joy of looking up at the sky together.

 

2:00 pm
Spark: The Universe in Us

From the oxygen we breathe to the uranium that warms our planet’s core, we owe everything to the stars! Narrated by Diego Luna, “Spark: The Universe in Us” explores how hundreds of millions of celestial events have forged the elements that make up the Solar System, Earth, and us. Join us as we travel deep inside a giant star that is about to implode, experience the quiet demise of a star like the Sun, and witness the collision of compact stellar cores. Journey across space and time as we explore the movement of elements through our galaxy to understand how stars seed the Universe with the building blocks of life.

 

3:00 pm
We Are Guardians – NEW!

Come get a view of our world from a satellite’s perspective! We Are Guardians is a visually stunning show that reveals how the Earth, its ecosystems, and its people are all intrinsically connected. From a single bumblebee to an expansive forest, discover how each component of our planet’s beautiful ecosystems fit together. Find out how satellites can help us monitor these environments, better understand the impact of climate change, and help us to protect our shared home!

 

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Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, a native of Montclair, New Jersey, was the second man to stand on the surface of the moon. The visor in his helmet shows a reflection of Astronaut Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon) taking this picture, as well as one footpad of the Lunar Module Eagle and the United States flag planted next to it.

 

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