Touch the Stars

“Touch the Stars” dramatically showcases the robotic spacecraft used in the exploration of our solar system and the galaxy beyond. The film traces the path to space through the history of NASA’s probes, orbiters, and landers—from the heart of our solar system and the surface of its planets and moons to the grand tour of the Voyager spacecraft through the outer planets and beyond. Created with the cooperation of NASA and Lockheed Martin, and using the latest high definition imagery and scientific data, fulldome show “Touch the Stars” engages audiences through the use of real footage and 3-dimensional vistas, transporting us to planets and distant stars alongside these heroic robot explorers for an unforgettable voyage.

Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth is an ultra high resolution full-dome production, narrated by actor Liam Neeson. The show explores the inner workings of Earth’s climate system. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.

NEW! Secret of the Cardboard Rocket

Embark on an outstanding adventure as two children spend a night touring all the planets in our solar system alongside their ship’s navigator, a rather plucky astronomy book. Visit each planet and learn fun and interesting facts about them!

NEW! Exo: Are We Alone?

Humankind has always sought to understand the mysteries of the Universe and speculated about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Today we know of thousands of exoplanets — planets located outside our Solar System — that offer valuable information about our own planet, its origins and life on Earth. We're on the cusp of making some fascinating discoveries. But how will they change our lives?

NEW! Climate Change

Earth is the only world in the solar system where we know life exists. Countless species of plants and animals thrive on its surface and in its oceans. But Earth is changing. The atmosphere is losing its ability to regulate the comfortable temperatures that help life thrive. Things are warming up.

Tales of the Maya Skies

The ancient Maya achieved an unparalleled understanding of astronomy. Experience how Maya culture, life, architecture, and legends were intertwined with the ancient Maya’s scientific observation and recording of planetary movements.

Heart of the Sun

New space-based telescopes, along with a new generation of terrestrial instruments, capture both the fine surface detail and the vast eruptions of the corona with unprecedented clarity and for the first time take us right inside a living star.

Magic Tree House: Space Mission

Based on the book series by Mary Pope Osborne. Adventure through space with brother-sister team of Jack and Annie….and their Magic Tree House!

One World, One Sky

Join Sesame Street’s Big Bird, Elmo and their Chinese friend Hu Hu Zhu on a discovery of the sun, moon, and stars!

Dinosaurs at Dusk

Travel back to the time of dinosaurs with teenage pilot Lucy and her father, in search of the ancestors of modern birds, and the origins of flight. Limited show times, call for information and reservations.

Be sure to visit the dinosaurs in our new exhibit, Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey before or after your show.

Wildest Weather in the Solar System

Fly through the thick atmosphere of Venus, magnetic storms on the sun, liquid methane showers on Titan, and a raging 400-year-old-hurricane on Jupiter. You’ll emerge glad you live on Earth! Pair this show with our Wide World of Weather workshop.

Earth, Moon & Sun

Our most popular show! Discover Earth’s place in the universe, and the patterns in the motion of sun, moon and stars with the help of clever Coyote.

Stars!

Stars focuses on the lives of the stars, how they are born, how they die, and how human understanding of the stars has changed over time. From Native Americans to Newton, from the electromagnetic spectrum to Einstein, audiences will explore nebulae, star clusters, pulsars, black holes, and more.

To Space and Back

Join us as we take an incredible journey from the far reaches of our known universe to our own planet. It is an extraordinary story of human ingenuity and incredible engineering, describing how the technology that transports us through space is paving the way for the devices and apps we use every day. Discover how space exploration is shaping your world in this new fully immersive show.

Black Holes

Few mysteries in the universe have the power and awe of black holes. Only now are we on the verge of understanding their true nature. What are they? How are they made? Is the Earth in danger of being pulled into one? This new program incorporates some of the most intense full dome visual effects ever created on the subject and includes a live tour through our evening New Jersey Sky.

The Little Star that Could

Little Star is an average yellow star, searching for planets of his own to protect and warm. Pairs with the Early Learning program Stars & Shapes Forever.

Laser Halloween

The Museum presents its seasonal special Laser Halloween show! This terrifyingly fun laser experience will send chills up your spine as you witness prowling vampires and haunting demons. Dazzling lights jump out from the darkness in fun renditions of seasonal music such as Purple People Eater and Monster Mash. Laser Halloween is a ghoulish way to celebrate the Halloween season... if you dare! The presentation is suitable for general audiences but note some songs may contain lyrics or images considered scary by very young children.

Laser Holiday Magic!

The NJSM Planetarium invites you to celebrate this magical holiday season with its most spectacular show ever! Our new full-spectrum laser beams dance along with dazzling animated laser effects set to popular holiday music such as Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman and many more. Enjoy a unique, festive experience under the stars at New Jersey’s largest full dome planetarium. Suitable for general audiences.

Rusty Rocket's Last Blast!

All rookies report to class! Join Rusty Rocket on his final mission as he takes a new class of rocket rookies on an introductory tour of the solar system. Along the way, Rusty highlights the wide variety of environments in the solar system, the great distances between the planets, and the spacecraft that explore them.

Be sure to visit the dinosaurs in our exhibit, Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey before or after your show.

Destination Mars

Ever wonder what it would be like to fly to Mars? NASA – and others – have their sights set on the Red Planet and they’re building the technology to get us there! Destination Mars: The New Frontier gives you an up-close look at humanity’s most epic endeavor. Explore the work being done around the globe to help make the dream of getting humans to Mars a reality. Fly through the International Space Station, where astronauts are already living and working in space, and follow the rockets and vehicles that will take humans beyond the Moon and, one day, all the way to Mars! Travel along as we imagine this remarkable journey. This film is narrated by former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison and Emmy-award winning actor Keith David and includes original music by Claudio Ragazzi, a Grammy Award-winning professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

Season of Light

Season of Light explores the reasons humans are so fascinated with lighting up our lives during the December holiday season. It's an exploration of the astronomical meanings behind seasonal traditions, including the "Star over Bethlehem". Season of Light is a specialty program with an emphasis on astronomical and cultural themes related to the holiday season. Its educational impact is achieved through a set of multidisciplinary ideas woven throughout the program that help relate different holiday traditions and astronomy to the lives of students, families, and the general public.

Astronaut

The exploration of space is the greatest endeavor that humankind has ever undertaken. What does it take to be part of this incredible journey? What does it take to become an astronaut? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Discover the perils that lurk in space as we subject ‘Chad’, our test astronaut, to everything that space has to throw at him.

Extreme Planets

For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. Now, we are finally one step closer to knowing the answer. With the discovery in 1995 of the first planet orbiting another star, we now know that planets are not unique to our own Solar System. In fact, these extrasolar planets now appear to be quite common. Extreme Planets explores what makes a planet “Earth-like” in the first place and takes a fulldome tour of several worlds that just might fit the conditions we’re looking for. From water worlds to molten landscapes, inhabitable moons to planets with multiple suns, these exotic worlds aren’t just science fiction anymore!

Sky Quest

Sky Quest is an exploration of the stars, planets, and constellations told from the viewpoint of an astronomer. Share her lifelong fascination with the heavens — from her childhood adventures on Mars (via a cardboard rocket) — to the discovery of her “birthday star” that led her to become an astronomer and build her own mountain-top observatory. The astronomer shares her telescope views of solar system objects and talks about manned landings on the Moon, future missions to Mars, Hubble Space Telescope studies of Jupiter, and the glorious rings of Saturn. Along the way she points out her favorite stars, and explains how she learned to find the constellations with simple star-hopping techniques. She encourages everyone to make the time to look up, even if it means stargazing in urban areas with light pollution.