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Department of State

New Jersey State Museum

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State
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Events At The Museum

Events Calendar

Touch the Stars
January 6-9 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

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January 8 2026

Teen Art Drop-in Program

Free afterschool art program for teens (14+) to drop in anytime from 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Touch the Stars
January 10-11 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Big Astronomy
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  One Sky Project (NEW!)

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January 10 2026

Small Explorers: Learning Together: Shapes and Patterns

9:30 am

Shapes and patterns can be found throughout the Museum - from Lenape beadwork to the stripes on a snake! For this session, families will be looking at the shapes and patterns on quilts. We will read "The All-Together Quilt." Children will get the opportunity to create a story from the quilts that they see and make their own paper quilts to take home. Complete details and registration available with this link: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-january-program

Touch the Stars
January 13-16 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

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January 15 2026

Small Explorers: Learning Together: Shapes and Patterns

9:30 am

Shapes and patterns can be found throughout the Museum - from Lenape beadwork to the stripes on a snake! For this session, families will be looking at the shapes and patterns on quilts. We will read "The All-Together Quilt." Children will get the opportunity to create a story from the quilts that they see and make their own paper quilts to take home. Complete details and registration available with this link: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-january-program

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January 17 2026

Small Explorers Story Time and Craft

10:00 am

Discovery Den

This month we’re reading “What Can a Citizen Do?” then making a related craft. Free, no registration required.

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January 17 2026

Science Under the Stars

4:15 pm

Galactic Monsters: Active Supermassive Black Holes and their Effects on Galaxies

Join us in the Planetarium for a free talk with Dr. Lauranne Lanz, The College of New Jersey. Astronomers have found that nearly every galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole at its center. In some galaxies, these slumbering behemoths roar to life as active galactic nuclei (AGN). Dr. Lauranne Lanz discusses how AGN can shape the fate of their host galaxies and shares the frontiers of black hole research.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/g/0vJ0yXMrBC

Touch the Stars
January 17-18 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Big Astronomy
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  One Sky Project (NEW!)

Touch the Stars
January 20-23 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

Touch the Stars
January 24 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends - Spanish Language Show

Touch the Stars
January 24-25 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Big Astronomy
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  One Sky Project (NEW!)

Touch the Stars
January 27-30 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

Touch the Stars
January 31 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Big Astronomy
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  One Sky Project (NEW!)

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January 31 2026

Annual Scouting Day – Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Science

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Join us at the New Jersey State Museum with your Scouting troop and work towards fulfilling requirements for three badges - all in one day! Have fun while learning from Museum curators, all while fulfilling some of the requirements for the Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Science badges. This event is suitable for troops of all levels. Complete details and registration available with this link: https://events.humanitix.com/annual-scouting-day-event-astronomy-geology-and-environmental-science

Touch the Stars
February 1 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Big Astronomy
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  One Sky Project (NEW!)

Touch the Stars
February 3-6 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
February 7-8 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  We Are Guardians!
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  One Sky Project
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
February 10-13 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Áróra

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February 12 2026

Teen Art Drop-in Program

Free afterschool art program for teens (14+) to drop in anytime from 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Touch the Stars
February 14-15 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  We Are Guardians!
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  One Sky Project
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
February 17-20 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Áróra

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February 21 2026

Science Under the Stars: The Cosmic Origin of the Elements from Hydrogen to Gold

4:15 pm

Speaker: Zachary Andalman, Princeton University

Matter is made up of atomic elements like Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Iron, Aluminium, Gold, and Uranium. But where do the elements come from? Join us in the planetarium for this free talk and explore the cosmic factories where the elements are forged, from the inferno of the big bang to the nuclear furnaces of stars and supernovae to the spectacular collisions of neutron stars, which speaker Zachary Andalman studies in his research.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/g/0vJ0yXMrBC

Touch the Stars
February 21-22 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  We Are Guardians!
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  One Sky Project
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
February 24-27 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
February 28 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends - Spanish Language Show

Touch the Stars
February 28 2026

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  We Are Guardians!
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  One Sky Project
3:00 pm  Áróra

Upcoming Events

Small Explorers Story Time

Science Under the Stars

3rd Saturday of every month, 10:00 am

Join us in Discovery Den every 3rd Saturday of the month to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is designed for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. Families are encouraged to explore the galleries on their own after the program. Pick up a Small Explorers gallery cards throughout the Museum.

Dec. 20, reading “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner, illustrator Christopher Silas Neal
Jan. 17, reading “What Can a Citizen Do?” by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris
Feb. 21, reading “Jake Makes a World” by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, illustrated by Christopher Myers

Science Under the Stars

Science Under the Stars

January 17, 4:15 pm

Galactic Monsters: Active Supermassive Black Holes and their Effects on Galaxies

Join us in the Planetarium for a free talk with Dr. Lauranne Lanz, The College of New Jersey. Astronomers have found that nearly every galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole at its center. In some galaxies, these slumbering behemoths roar to life as active galactic nuclei (AGN). Dr. Lauranne Lanz discusses how AGN can shape the fate of their host galaxies and shares the frontiers of black hole research.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/g/0vJ0yXMrBC

Annual Scouting Day – Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Science

Annual Scouting Day

January 31, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Annual Scouting Day – Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Science

Join us at the New Jersey State Museum with your Scouting troop and work towards fulfilling requirements for three badges - all in one day! Have fun while learning from Museum curators, all while fulfilling some of the requirements for the Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Science badges. This event is suitable for troops of all levels. ickets are $10 per person and include one Planetarium show with expanded Sky Talk, Career Opportunities session, access to the fossil prep open house and the “Ecosystems at Risk” gallery research handout.

Complete details and registration available with this link: https://events.humanitix.com/annual-scouting-day-event-astronomy-geology-and-environmental-science

Small Explorers Learning Together

Small Explorers Series

Small Explorers Learning Together is the Museum’s program for families with children ages 1-5. Hundreds of families have experienced the magic of exploring the Museum in these sessions and now you can too! Two classes are offered each month, the 2nd Saturday or the following Thursday, at 9:30 am and are limited to 20 children per class. Classes meets in our Discovery Den play space and begins with an interactive story time. Families move together to playfully explore a gallery and end in our classroom space with thematic activity stations including a craft to take home. Classes are designed to maximize caregiver-child interaction and connect with a community of families to share in exploration. Each class is 45 minutes long and meet October to June.

Cost: Classes are $20 per child, each additional sibling receives a 20% discount. Caregivers attend free. New Jersey State Museum Foundation members receive 10% off. Tickets for each session are sold on Humanitix, links will shared on the Museum’s Events Calendar.

If you are not on our mailing list but would like to learn more please register with this link. If you have additional questions contact Devra.Hock-Reid@sos.nj.gov.

Event Rentals

The New Jersey State Museum is a wonderful setting for your special event with changing exhibits that can provide a unique backdrop for any occasion. The Museum is ideally located in the State Capital Complex in Trenton, and offers a one-of-a-kind venue with incredible architecture and beautiful views of the Delaware River. For rates and availability, please view our rental information or email Rentals.NJSM@sos.nj.gov.

Available Rental spaces:

First Floor West Gallery
Riverview Court

This exceptional space is an ideal setting for buffet receptions, intimate sit-down dinners, business seminars and more. Available evenings and weekends only.

Auditorium
Auditorium

The 384-seat Auditorium is available for a wide variety of lectures, conferences, movie premieres, theater performances and more.

Additional rental spaces

 

 

 


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