Stellar Planetariums & Observatories for NYC Kids

Kelly R:  The Newark Museum's Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium is New Jersey's first planetarium, and offers a variety of programming to teach families about astronomy and space. Seating is limited to 50 people, so plan to arrive early and avoid holidays.

The Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) organizes and holds observing sessions wherever the sky can be viewed throughout NYC and the surrounding boroughs, from locations like Central Park, Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can observe the universe through telescopes and binoculars brought by the members of AAA, or you can bring your own equipment. Instruction is provided on how to locate stars, constellations, and planets in the night sky. Each location has its own site where you can find specific event details.

Jennie Utsinger:  Join the Urban Park Rangers on select evenings to peer up at the sky, try to spot some planets, and learn about the solar system. The program highlights the science, history, and folklore of the universe.

Kelly R:  Astronomy Nights at the Intrepid Museum are free events for the whole family, featuring expert-led presentations followed by stargazing on the flight deck and pop-up planetarium shows.

Located within the American Museum of Natural History, the Hayden Planetarium is a part of the Rose Center for Earth & Space. A custom made star projector and digital dome projector are displayed upon a 87ft wide hemispheric dome set inside of a glass cube. The view spans from the earth to the farthest known part of the universe. The shows are based on authentic scientific 3D maps, forming the Digital Universe Atlas, giving each seat its own unique view, allowing the viewers to feel lost in space.

Jennie Utsinger:  Columbia University Public Outreach, a subset of Columbia's Astronomy Department, provides public education and outreach to the NYC community. The Rutherfurd Observatory (on top of the physics laboratory) has several telescopes available for public events. Three times a year, the program holds family astronomy events, where families and children aged 6-12 can spend an afternoon in the observatory. Additional stargazing events occur year-round, preceded by free public astronomy lectures during the academic year.

Andrus Planetarium, located in the Hudson River Museum, features kid friendly shows every weekend, engaging your child in a starry skied interactive experience. Numerous digital planetarium shows are held at this location, some for younger school aged kids and others for kids 8+. Shows range from 24-55 minutes. For a live tour of the universe check out "The Sky Tonight" show.

Located within the Cradle of Aviation Museum, this planetarium offers visitors an all digital, state of the art high resolution projection of the universe on a full dome theater in a 70 mm film format, the highest quality in the world. Real-time visuals and pre-designed graphics of the universe based on data from NASA are projected.

Children (age 2-12) can engage in interactive learning programs based on astronomy, astrophysics and earth sciences in Live Astronomy Programs.

The Astronomical Society of Long Island is a group of amateur astronomers and telescope makers who welcome everyone to join in on their observing sessions. This group meets every Wednesday night at the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, NY. Visitors are welcome to use the members telescopes or bring their own equipment.

Following a $4 million update, the Reichert Planetarium in the Vanderbilt Museum is a site to see! This facility offers educational and fun programs developed by renowned planetariums throughout the world both for kids and adults to enjoy as well as celestial events which are recreated on the 60ft dome.

This facility also features a rooftop observatory, open Friday nights, where visitors can gaze through a 16" Meade Reflecting Telescope while being guided by an astronomy educator.