The Hayden Planetarium is a part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space inside the American Museum of Natural History, situated in New York City. This state-of-the-art planetarium helps people from all spheres of life learn about the latest work in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and science visualization. It has two main theaters, the Space Theater and the Big Bang Theater, and is famous for its innovative interactive shows and community outreach programs. So, if you're in NYC, be sure to visit the Hayden Planetarium for a ride across the universe as we know it.

How do I visit the Hayden Planetarium

Location: Floor 1, Rose Center for Earth and Space, next to the Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals

The Hayden Planetarium is known for its Space Shows that take place on the top half of the Hayden Sphere, known as the Space Theater. You need a special ticket to view the shows at Hayden Planetarium.

You can select the Hayden Planetarium Space Show as the special exhibit of choice with your General Admission + 1 Ticketed Exhibition ticket , or add additional special exhibits to your ticket at the gate.

The current show for viewing is the Encounters in the Milky Way Space Show, which runs every 30 minutes, from 10:30am to 4:30pm.

More about the Rose Center for Earth and Space

Things to know before visiting the Hayden Planetarium

Your General Admission ticket includes access to the Rose Center for Earth and Space but does not include the ticketed exhibition within the hall at the Hayden Planetarium.
You can select the Space Show at Hayden Planetarium as a part of your General Admission + 1 Ticketed Exhibition ticket at the museum. Show your pass at the entry and select the exhibition upon arrival.
The Space Shows are timed experiences, which means you have to select your preferred showtime when you make the special exhibit selection.
The current show on view in The Space Theater is Encounters in the Milky Way, which opened on 9 June 2025.
The first screening of the day takes place at 10:30am, and the final screening is at 4:30pm, daily. The shows start every 30 minutes.
Rescheduling on the same day is possible with the ticketed exhibit, but it is subject to availability, based on the number of bookings reserved at any given time slot.
If you want to reschedule your ticketed exhibition to another date, you will have to purchase another General Admission ticket to visit the museum on the date of your choice.

Shows at the Hayden Planetarium

Encounters in the Milky Way: Space Show

Take a time-traveling journey with Pedro Pascal across our galaxy, the Milky Way, as you learn about the events that took place over millions of years to create the galaxy and our neighbors. Witness the paths of stars, comets, interstellar debris, and stunning gas and dust clouds, from the past and into the future, and see the ongoing galactic merger of our galaxy with a satellite galaxy.

It features accurate mapping of nearly 2 billion stars in our galaxy, made possible by the data provided by the European Space Agency's Gaia, a space observatory launched in 2013, which was active till March 2025.

Created with a team of astronomers, science visualization experts, and artists, Encounters in the Milky Way takes you on a visually gripping journey of the galaxy we call home.

Narrated by: Pedro Pascal, actor
Duration: 24 minutes
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
Timings: First screening at 10:30am, final screening at 4:30 pm
Closed on: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Learn more about the Hayden Planetarium Space Show

Big Bang Theater Presentation

The Big Bang Theater presentation quickly takes the audience through time and space, starting from the very origins of the universe, through its expansion and cooling stages, onto the creation of simple gas clouds, and finally, the birth of galaxies with stars and planets. It uses the data from millions of astronomical observations to map the cosmos as we know it, all in just four minutes!

Duration: 4 minutes
Frequency: Every 5 minutes
Closed on: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Know before you go

Location: Floor 1, Rose Center for Earth and Space

Address: 200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024, United States | Find on Maps

Timings: Daily from 10am to 5:30pm, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Space Show timings: 10:30am to 4:30pm
Duration:
Space Show: 24 minutes
Big Bang Theater presentation: 4 minutes
Reservation required:
Space Show: Yes
Big Bang Theater presentation: No
Included with General Admission:
Space Show: No, requires a Special Exhibit ticket
Big Bang Theater Presentation: Yes
Scales of the Universe: Yes
Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway: Yes
Accessibility: The Hayden Planetarium is wheelchair accessible. The Space Theater also has wheelchair seating areas as well as companion seats. The museum also has elevators on each floor.

More about the exhibits at the Rose Center >

Architecture and design

The original Hayden Planetarium opened in 1933 and was demolished in 1997. It was then reconstructed as part of the Rose Center and opened to the public in 2000. James Polshek and Todd H. Schliemann designed the project. They extensively reworked the original plans of the former Hayden Planetarium to create the current one.

The planetarium is a gigantic sphere-like structure that is sometimes referred to as a 'cosmic cathedral'. The 87-foot sphere appears to float in the air inside a huge, six-story-high glass-and-steel cube. The Hayden Sphere is the centerpiece of the whole setup, representing the sun. It has all the other planets suspended around it, which helps visualize their scale and size compared to the sphere. The exhibit highlights the properties of the observable universe to give a sense of the human connection to the cosmos.

Technological features

The Hayden Planetarium uses world-class technology to give guests a truly immersive experience. The massive Hayden Sphere structure is mainly divided into two parts: the Space Theater and the Big Bang Theater.

The Space Theater

The Space Theater is a 429-seat theater located in the top half of the Hayden Sphere and hosts the 'Space Show' that the planetarium is famous for. It uses the full-dome video setup, consisting of six new Christie Eclipse 4K, true HDR, and RGB pure laser projectors, to project shows that use current astrophysical data to create scientific visualization models. It also uses the custom Zeiss Mark IX Star Projector system to project a hyperrealistic 2-D replica of the night sky as seen from Earth.

The Big Bang Theater

The Big Bang Theater occupies the bottom half of the Hayden Sphere and hosts a 4-minute-long program on the birth of the universe. The theater has a concave screen that has a diameter of 36 feet, which stretches over an 8-foot-deep bowl. The visitors stand around the edge of the screen and look down upon it while listening to Liam Neeson's narration.

Frequently asked questions about the Hayden Planetarium

Is access included with general admission tickets?

The admission to the Hayden Planetarium is included in the general admission ticket to the American Museum of Natural History. However, the Space Show is a ticketed exhibit, and guests will be charged extra for it. You can choose to see the Space Show exhibit as part of the American Museum of Natural History Tickets + 1 Ticketed Exhibition option.

Where is the entrance to the Hayden Planetarium?

The closest entrance to the Hayden Planetarium is north of the American Museum of Natural History on 81st Street near Central Park West in Manhattan's Upper West Side.

How long should I spend at the Hayden Planetarium?

When visiting the planetarium, keep a couple of hours at hand to fully explore the space, the shows, and the exhibits of the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The shows should take up about 40 minutes in total, and the rest of the time you can spend at the Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, Scales of the Universe, Hall of the Universe, the Hall of Planet Earth, and other exhibits.

Are there any special programs or events at the Hayden Planetarium?

The Hayden Planetarium offers a number of special programs and events throughout the year. The most famous of them is the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate, which is held in honor of Isaac Asimov and his work.

Are there any age restrictions for the planetarium shows?

Generally, there are no age restrictions for the planetarium shows, but younger children may find it difficult to understand certain parts of the narration. However, they can always enjoy the stunning visuals.

Is photography allowed inside the planetarium?

Photography for personal use with hand-held cameras is allowed, except in a few particular places. Guests can either use available light or electronic flash attachments. However, photography or videography inside the theaters are not allowed.

Are there dining options available near the planetarium?

There are several great dining options near the planetarium, where you can stop for a meal before or after your visit. Some popular places are Gazala’s Mediterranean Restaurant, The Viand, Maison Pickle, Simply Noodles, Malecon, and others. The Museum also has some food spots inside: the Museum Food Court, The Restaurant at Gilder, the Café on One, and the Café on Four.

Is there a gift shop at the Hayden Planetarium?

Yes, there is a gift shop at the Rose Center called the Cosmic Shop. It is located on Floor 2 near the exit of the Space Show. It sells cosmos-related toys, games, posters, postcards, science kits, and more.