English
English
- American Museum of Natural History
- Dinosaurs
- Night at the Museum Tour
- Hayden Planetarium
- T-Rex Exhibit
- Exhibitions
- Photos
- Shopping
- Broadway
- Edge NYC
- Empire State Building
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Statue of Liberty
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- One World Observatory
- Top of the Rock
- Intrepid Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
- Rockefeller Center
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Whitney Museum
- New York Aquarium
- Central Park Zoo
- Bronx Zoo
- New York Historical Society
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
Contents
About the Hayden Planetarium
The Hayden Planetarium has one of the most advanced planetarium projection systems in the world. It uses genuine data from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration (JAXA) missions to create spectacular immersive experiences. Information from telescopes, supercomputer simulations, and global scientific research is used to make the exhibits. The planetarium is a pioneer in encouraging public engagement with scientific research, education, and innovation.
Location: 200 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024, USA
Timings: Open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Duration:
- Worlds Beyond Earth Show: 25 mins
- Big Bang Presentation: 4 mins
Included with admission: The Big Bang Presentation is included with admission. The Worlds Beyond Earth Show is a ticketed exhibit.
Wheelchair accessible: The Hayden Planetarium is fully wheelchair accessible and has elevators on all the floors. The Space Theater also has wheelchair seating areas as well as companion seats.
Top experiences at the Planetarium
Space Shows in the Hayden Sphere
The Space Show takes place at the Space Theater inside the Hayden Sphere. The current show is the 25-minute-long Worlds Beyond Earth, which started in 2021, and is narrated by Lupita Nyong'o. It talks about the special conditions that make life on Earth possible and takes the guests on a journey to a number of our neighbouring planets. Apart from this, the first show that debuted with the new theater, Passport to the Universe, narrated by Tom Hanks, is coming back to the Space Theater for a limited time in 2025.
Scales of the Universe
The Scales of the Universe exhibit is spread all around the Hayden Sphere on the lower level of the Rose Center. It approximates the comparative size of different objects relative to the sphere, from galaxies to atoms to humans. It has a number of scales on display to measure different objects — Galactic Scale, Stellar Scale, Planetary Scale, and Biological & Atomic Scales.
Big Bang Theater Presentation
The Big Bang Theater presentation quickly takes the audience through time and space, starting from the very origins of the universe, through its expansion and cooling stages, onto the creation of simple gas clouds, and finally, the birth of galaxies with stars and planets. It uses the data from millions of astronomical observations to map the cosmos as we know it, all in just four minutes!
Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway
The Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway forms a sort of natural continuation of the Big Bang Theater and starts from its exit, winding its way down to the base of the sphere. The pathway is 360 feet long, and the photos, videos, text, other media objects, and artifacts displayed along its railings denote the different stages of cosmic evolution over the last 13 billion years.
Architecture and design
The original Hayden Planetarium opened in 1933 and was demolished in 1997. It was then reconstructed as part of the Rose Center and opened to the public in 2000. James Polshek and Todd H. Schliemann designed the project. They extensively reworked the original plans of the former Hayden Planetarium to create the current one.
The planetarium is a gigantic sphere-like structure that is sometimes referred to as a 'cosmic cathedral'. The 87-foot sphere appears to float in the air inside a huge, six-story-high glass-and-steel cube. The Hayden Sphere is the centerpiece of the whole set-up, representing the sun. It has all the other planets suspended around it, which helps visualize their scale and size compared to the sphere. The exhibit highlights the properties of the observable universe to give a sense of the human connection to the cosmos.
Book American Museum of Natural History tickets
Frequently asked questions about the Hayden Planetarium
Is access included with general admission tickets?
The admission to the Hayden Planetarium is included in the general admission ticket to the American Museum of Natural History. However, the Space Show is a ticketed exhibit, and guests will be charged extra for it. You can choose to see the Space Show exhibit as part of the American Museum of Natural History Tickets + 1 Ticketed Exhibition option.
Where is the entrance to the Hayden Planetarium?
The closest entrance to the Hayden Planetarium is north of the American Museum of Natural History on 81st Street near Central Park West in Manhattan's Upper West Side.
How long should I spend at the Hayden Planetarium?
When visiting the planetarium, keep a couple of hours at hand to fully explore the space, the shows, and the exhibits of the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The shows should take up about 40 minutes in total, and the rest of the time you can spend at the Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, Scales of the Universe, Hall of the Universe, the Hall of Planet Earth, and other exhibits.
Are there any special programs or events at the Hayden Planetarium?
The Hayden Planetarium offers a number of special programs and events throughout the year. The most famous of them is the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate, which is held in honor of Isaac Asimov and his work.
Are there any age restrictions for the planetarium shows?
Generally, there are no age restrictions for the planetarium shows, but younger children may find it difficult to understand certain parts of the narration. However, they can always enjoy the stunning visuals.
Is photography allowed inside the planetarium?
Photography for personal use with hand-held cameras is allowed, except in a few particular places. Guests can either use available light or electronic flash attachments. However, photography or videography inside the theaters are not allowed.
Are there dining options available near the planetarium?
There are several great dining options near the planetarium, where you can stop for a meal before or after your visit. Some popular places are Gazala’s Mediterranean Restaurant, The Viand, Maison Pickle, Simply Noodles, Malecon, and others. The Museum also has some food spots inside: the Museum Food Court, The Restaurant at Gilder, the Café on One, and the Café on Four.
Is there a gift shop at the Hayden Planetarium?
Yes, there is a gift shop at the Rose Centre called the Cosmic Shop. It is located on Floor 2 near the exit of the Space Show. It sells cosmos-related toys, games, posters, postcards, science kits, and more.