Are you looking for a family outing that is interactive, educational and out-of-this-world fun? Catch a star at one of NJ’s wonderful planetariums, the perfect destination for an indoor winter day trip.
Public programs at these New Jersey planetariums come with catchy titles, like Wonders of the Seasonal Sky and Perfect Little Planet, and feature something for every age group. Explore the stars, rock out to some groovy tunes or go on an adventure with Big Bird. The possibilities are endless when the sky’s the limit!
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Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium at Newark Museum
Address: 49 Washington Street, Newark
Price: $6 for adults, $4 for children, college students, seniors and veterans
Details: Take a trip to outer space and learn about astronomy, planets, constellations and our Solar System at this interactive planetarium theater. Shows, which vary by age group, run Wednesday through Friday at 2 pm, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The current featured title for younger audiences (5-8) is The Little Star That Could, while older children (9 & up) will enjoy Experience the Aurora. Seating for all shows is first come, first served and children must be accompanied by an adult.
More info: www.newarkmuseum.org/planetarium or call 973-596-6550
Longo Planetarium at County College of Morris
Address: 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph
Price: $10 per person
Details: This recently renovated state-of-the-art planetarium is spectacular, boasting seating for 91 people, along with a new sound system, lighting and space image gallery. All public shows begin with astronomer Christopher Fenwick’s live tour of the night sky, followed by Space Extreme on Friday nights and Shapes in the Sky and Tour of the Planets, both offered on Saturdays. Reservations for all shows are highly recommended.
More info: www.ccm.edu/planetarium or call 973-328-5076
New Jersey State Museum Planetarium
Address: 205 West State Street, Trenton
Price: $7 for adults, $5 for children (12 & under)
Details: Get ready for takeoff in comfy reclining seats, then journey into space at New Jersey’s largest planetarium. Using state-of-the-art DomeVision, visitors will experience the sensation of zooming through the solar system. Public shows are available on weekends, while weekdays are reserved for schools and groups. Upcoming children’s shows include One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure and Magic Tree House: Space Mission. General audiences can enjoy the Asteroid: Mission Extreme and Laser Magic! shows.
More info: www.newjerseystatemuseum.org or call 609-292-6464
The Robert J. Novins Planetarium at Ocean County College
Address: 1 College Drive, Toms River
Price: $10 for adults, $7 for children (12 & under), $8 for seniors
Details: Blast off into the planetarium’s 3-D video space, where visitors can travel from the smallest size scales to the edge of the universe, plus check out the night sky as viewed from Earth. Shows geared towards younger audiences include The Stars from My Backyard and Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, while topics like Wonders of the Seasonal Sky and Dawn of the Space Age appeal to an older crowd.
More info: www.ocean.edu/planetarium or call 732-225-0343
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University
Address: 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro
Price: $5 for adults, $3 for children and seniors, $2 for all ages at family shows
Details: A great family outing for an indoor-kind-of-day, Edelman Planetarium’s public family shows, which are only 2 bucks, are a great opportunity to introduce little ones to our solar system. Upcoming titles include Earth, Moon & Sun and Perfect Little Planet. Adults and children over 10 can explore stars, planets and the night sky at public, full-dome movies such as Moons: Worlds of Mystery and The Last Question. The full programs include a live projection of the night sky.
More info: www.rowan.edu/planetarium or call 856-256-4389
The Planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College
Address: 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg
Price: $8 per person, $14 for two shows in one day
Details: Rock out to hits by Taylor Swift, Beatles, the Grateful Dead and more at RVCC Planetarium’s laser concerts, featuring bright lights and diverse music selections. The Planetarium also hosts public star shows, designed for various age groups, such as The Little Star That Could for younger audiences, and Exploding Universe for visitors over 10. All programs take place on Saturdays and run approximately 40 minutes. Reservations are strongly recommended.
More info: www.raritanval.edu/planetarium or call 908-231-8805
MMKids StarLab Planetarium at Monmouth Museum
Address: 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft
Price: $1 with museum admission, free for museum members
Details: Monmouth Museum is a fun, interactive children’s museum, located on the campus of Brookdale College. The Becker Children’s wing of the museum hosts the MMKids StarLab Planetarium Show, a 20-minute docent-led presentation on the night skies and constellations, perfect for the budding astronomer. The StarLab show runs Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and is recommended for ages 7 and up. Preschoolers can explore the night sky with songs and stories at Friday’s presentation of Twinkletots Planetarium Show.
More info: monmouthmuseum.org/mmkids or call 732-747-2266
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