The Best Planetariums in and Near NYC
Sometimes stars aren’t at peak visibility—whether it’s due to a summer storm or the bright New York City lights—but you can still enjoy celestial wonders at local planetariums! Gaze at the night sky even in the middle of the day at one of these locations. (Please note planetarium and observatory hours may differ from museum hours. We recommend you call planetariums ahead prior to your visit.)
Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium in the Newark Museum
49 Washington St., Newark, NJ
973-596-6550
The first of planetariums built in New Jersey, the Dreyfuss offers a variety of shows, special events, and programs for families to enjoy. Visit the website for the planetarium’s schedule. Tickets are free with general admission to museum.
Charles and Helen Reichart Planetarium at the Vanderbilt Museum
180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, Long Island
631-854-5579
The Vanderbilt Planetarium offers seasonal shows and fun, educational programs for family. The Planetarium has diverse programming that includes fulldome films, live star talks, laser shows, concerts, and special events. Check the online schedule for details. The rooftop observatory is open every Friday night, weather permitting, where visitors can examine the night sky through the Vanderbilt’s 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope.
Hayden Planetarium in the American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th St., Upper West Side, Manhattan
212-769-5100
The museum offers a variety of celestial programs and shows inside the planetarium.The 429-seat Space Theater, which features a custom-made Zeiss Mark IX Star Projector and a Digital Dome Projection System to display a hyperrealistic view of the planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, uses a scientifically accurate 3D map of the observable universe based on millions of astronomical observations.
Hudson River Museum Planetarium
511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers
914-963-4550
The planetarium at the Hudson River Museum has celestial shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Some shows are geared toward specific age groups; the schedule can be found on the website.
JetBlue Sky Theater Planetarium in the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center
Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City, Long Island
516-572-4111
Check the online schedule to see what shows are offered in the Sky Theater at the time you plan to visit this immersive, all-digital planetarium complete with with newly upgraded pure laser projectors. Prior to each show is a Your Night Sky presentation, taking viewers on a journey of the seasonal sky.
Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at the Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ
Liberty Science Center’s Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium is touted as the biggest planetarium in America. The space boasts a resolution of 88 million pixels, a lighting system that can produce over 281 trillion colors, and speakers capable of producing 30,000 watts of digital sound. Check out the 89-foot full-dome view of the night sky and distant galaxies, available as an add-on to your general admission ticket to the center.
New Jersey State Museum’s Planetarium
205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ
609-292-6464
This planetarium is fully upgraded with an Ultra-High Resolution 8K projection system and specially designed reclining seats. Shows are offered to the public Saturday and Sunday from September-June. Weekday shows are held for school or community groups with advanced reservations. During the summer months, winter break, and spring break, weekday shows are available to the public.
Observatory and Planetarium at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT
203-322-1646
The planetarium is currently closed for public hours but available for school programs, scout groups, special events and private parties. On selected Friday nights a special series of Astronomy Nights is available for kids ages 5 and up.
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