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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
May 20-23 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

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May 23 2025

Sky Observing Night with AAAP

7:45 pm in the Planetarium

Come to the Planetarium for a special star talk, then we’ll caravan for the drive to Washington Crossing State Park where we’ll join the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton at the Simpson Observatory to use the telescopes and see the objects we discussed.

stars
May 24 2025

Science Under the Stars

May 24, 4:15 pm

Twin Suns & Tatooines - Discussing the Stability & Habitability of Planets Orbiting Two Stars

Join Planetarium technician Michael Pedowitz for this free talk in the Planetarium. Reserve your seat

Touch the Stars
May 24-25 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
2:00 pm  Dinosaurs of Antarctica
3:00 pm  Tales of Maya Skies

Touch the Stars
May 24-25 2025

Spanish Language Planetarium Program

11:00 am  Dinosaurios de la Antártida

Touch the Stars
May 27-30 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
May 31 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
2:00 pm  Dinosaurs of Antarctica
3:00 pm  Tales of Maya Skies

Touch the Stars
June 1 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
2:00 pm  Dinosaurs of Antarctica
3:00 pm  Tales of Maya Skies

Touch the Stars
June 3-6 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth

Touch the Stars
June 7-8 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon, & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
June 10-13 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth

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June 14 2025

Small Explorers: Me and My Amazing Body

9:45 am, 11:00 am, and 12:15 pm

Dinosaurs have bones, how about me? We will explore what's under our skin and learn the names of our head, shoulders, knees and toes: and a few other parts. It's also Graduation day for our 5 year olds.

Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/g/RAvt270c0t’

Small Explorers is the Museum’s program for Trenton-area families with children ages six months to five years old. The program is supported by a grant from PNC Grow Up Great.

Touch the Stars
June 14-15 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon, & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
June 17-19 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth

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June 20 2025

Museum Closed

Museum Closed June 20th in observation of Juneteenth

Touch the Stars
June 21-22 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon, & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
June 24-27 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

2:30 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth

Touch the Stars
June 28-29 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm  Earth, Moon, & Sun
2:00 pm  Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm  Áróra

Touch the Stars
June 28-29 2025

Spanish Language Planetarium Program

11:00 am  5000 Ojos:mapeando el Universo con DESI

Touch the Stars
July 1-3 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

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July 4 2025

Museum Closed

Museum Closed July 4th for Independence Day

Touch the Stars
July 5-6 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
3:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 8-11 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 12-13 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
3:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 15-18 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 19-20 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
3:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 22-25 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 26-27 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:00 pm  One World, One Sky
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
3:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
July 26-27 2025

Spanish Language Planetarium Program

11:00 am  Chispa: El universe en nosotros

Touch the Stars
July 29-31 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
August 1 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Spark: The Universe in Us
1:30 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure! (NEW)
2:30 pm  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)

Touch the Stars
August 2-3 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
3:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 5-8 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)
1:30 pm  We Are Guardians
2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 9-10 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
3:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 12-15 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)
1:30 pm  We Are Guardians
2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 16-17 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
3:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 19-22 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)
1:30 pm  We Are Guardians
2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 23-24 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
3:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 23-24 2025

Spanish Language Planetarium Program

11:00 am  Nosotros somos guardians

Touch the Stars
August 26-29 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekdays

11:30 am  Secrets of the Universe (NEW)
1:30 pm  We Are Guardians
2:30 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Touch the Stars
August 30-31 2025

Planetarium Schedule Weekends

12:00 pm  Secrets of the Universe
2:00 pm  The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm  We Are Guardians
3:00 pm  Spark: The Universe in Us

Upcoming Events

Sky Observing Nights with AAAP

Science Under the Stars

May 23

On May 23rd we will have a special extended star talk in the planetarium at 7:45pm. We will discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends around 8pm, we will caravan for the drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed at the planetarium. For detailed directions to the Simpson Observatory and how to enter the park to access it, go to https://princetonastronomy.org/public_nights.

Make sure to dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!

If weather does not cooperate, the extended star talk will instead be followed by a showing of our new planetarium show, Spark.

Science Under the Stars

Science Under the Stars
Twin Suns & Tatooines - Discussing the Stability & Habitability of Planets Orbiting Two Stars

May 24, 4:15 pm

For decades, scientists have wondered if life could exist on “circumbinary planets” (CBPs), which are planets that orbit around two stars. Although astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets, just over a dozen are CBPs. Thus, researchers must utilize another tool to study populations of these planets: computer simulations! Michael will discuss how astrophysicists use simulations to predict which CBP orbits are dynamically stable (that is, if their systems don’t fly apart!), how their varying temperatures affect habitability, and how we can use this data to find real-life Tatooines.
Reserve your seat.

Small Explorers: Me and My Amazing Body

Small Explorers

June 14, 9:45 am, 11:00 am, and 12:15 pm

Dinosaurs have bones, how about me? We will explore what's under our skin and learn the names of our head, shoulders, knees and toes: and a few other parts. It's Graduation day for our 5 year olds.

The program is free but registration is required. Registration with this Link: https://forms.office.com/g/RAvt270c0t’

Small Explorers is the Museum’s program for Trenton-area families with children ages six months to five years old. The program is supported by a grant from PNC Grow Up Great.

Small Explorers Series

Small Explorers Series

Local families are welcome to register for the Small Explorers program, taking place in the Discovery Den on the second Saturday of the month, October through June. This playgroup is an opportunity for you to explore the Museum with your child and connect with other families for support. Families are encouraged to sign up for a full year of sessions to build knowledge, skills and relationships. The program is 45 minutes long and begins promptly. Sessions take place in-person at 9:45, 11:00 and 12:15 PM in the Discovery Den, The program is FREE, but space is limited; advance registration is required. Contact Susan.Kozak-Buckley@sos.nj.gov to learn more and register.

Small Explorers is supported by a grant from PNC Grow Up Great.

NOTE: Registration requests must be received by 10:00 am the Friday before the event in order to allow time for staff to confirm space availability.

Visit the Events/Calendar page for monthly program details and to register.

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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