Hayden Planetarium

4.6(627)google

3.9(97)yelp

Adult $30·Child(3-12y) $18·Student $24·Senior(60+) $24USD(The Hayden Planetarium is part of the AMNH; entry requires a 'General Admission + One Space Show' ticket bundle. NY, NJ, and CT residents qualify for pay-what-you-wish general museum admission, but planetarium show upgrades are billed at full upgrade rates.)

KidsIndoorImmersiveEducationalPlanetarium

Overview

The Hayden Planetarium, housed within the spectacular glass Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, is a world-class center for astronomical education and state-of-the-art space visualization. Featuring a colossal 87-foot-wide sphere suspended inside a transparent cube, it utilizes a custom high-definition projection system to screen breathtaking cosmic films narrated by prominent scientists. Visitors are taken on hyper-realistic journeys across galaxies, exploring the birth of stars, black holes, and the outer edges of the known universe, making science deeply inspiring.

Practical Info

200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024, USA

Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours

Best TimeAn all-weather planetarium spectacular year-round. Catching a weekday Space Show between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM inside the stunning glass-enclosed sphere is ideal. It delivers an immersive voyage through deep space away from weekend family rushes.

Getting ThereHoused inside the American Museum of Natural History complex on the Upper West Side. Take the B or C subway line directly to the 81st St-Museum of Natural History station, which connects seamlessly to the museum lower concourse.

(212) 769-5100

amnh.org/research/hayden-planetarium

Travel Tips

Housed inside AMNH, entry requires a combo ticket: General Admission PLUS a specific timed Hayden Planetarium Space Show ticket. Standard general entry leaves you locked out of the giant sphere; day-of add-ons are rarely available.
The theater doors seal hermetically 10 minutes prior to showtime; late arrivals are strictly denied entry due to pitch-black visual hazards, and exiting the dark dome to use the restroom means your seat is permanently forfeited.

Photo Tips

Photo Spots

The premier vantage point for capturing the famous floating sphere within its glass cube is the second-floor elevated skybridge connecting the Gilder Center to the historic wing; an ultra-wide angle lens maps its geometric scifi scale beautifully.

Reviews

Positive

The spherical theater within a giant white glass cube is visually stunning; the dome digital space films narrated by top scientists present the vast universe grandly.
The science displays, meteorite specimens, and interactive models offer rich educational dry goods, full of immersion and perfect for astronomy trips with kids.
As a core part of the American Museum of Natural History, the ticket offers great value; it features highly modern accessible facilities, clean restrooms, and clear signs.

Heads up

The space theater has limited seating, requiring advance online bookings with timed e-tickets; long lines and sold-out slots are common during peak travel seasons.
Due to high popularity and school field trips, public hallways and displays get intensely noisy and chaotic around noon, lacking a quiet space for peaceful reflection.
The fully enclosed giant dome screen showing rapid interstellar travel can cause slight dizziness or sensory overload for motion-sensitive or claustrophobic visitors.