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Planetarium

Offering a starry dome and much more, the Hayden Planetarium provides daily departures for outer space. Audiences can glimpse everything from actual images of cosmic phenomena to universes we can still only imagine.

Please note: the Planetarium is closing for renovations, January 2010 - November 2011. This exciting project includes the installation of new projection and digital animation technology, enabling the Museum to offer a much more broad range of programming.

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
4 - 12
Countdown to Supernova (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
Millions of stars across the universe are forming as others are dying out. It's all part of the cosmic cycle of birth and death. Under the dazzling special effects of the Planetarium, watch as stars are created from beautiful clouds of gas and dust, and then witness their ends—sometimes as spectacular ... (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
3 - Adult
Journey to the Edge of Space and Time (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
Travel to the farthest reaches of our universe — and back in time, to the beginning of it all. This Planetarium show examines our efforts to understand the cosmos, and it shows how ideas that were once considered wild are now the building blocks of new knowledge. See how Einstein's idea that ... (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
K - 2
Secrets of the Sky (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
This lighthearted musical program uses intrigue to spark students' interest in astronomical phenomena. Closed captioning, assistive listening devices and scripts are available for all programs. Tactile illustrations are available for all programs. (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
9 - 12
Stars of the Season (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
Students learn to recognize the planets, stars, and constellations visible from the Boston area. Presenters point out deep-sky objects visible through a telescope or binoculars and announce the latest astronomical developments. Assistive listening devices and tactile illustrations are available for all shows ... (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
6 - 8
Stars Over New England (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
An overview of the planets, stars, and constellations visible from the Boston area introduces students to basic techniques for observing the daily motions of the sky. Assistive listening devices and tactile illustrations are available for all shows. (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
3 - 5
The Sky Tonight (Planetarium Show)

Now Showing
Covering constellation and planet identification, this star show also addresses seasonal events and currently visible phenomena. Assistive listening devices and tactile illustrations are available for all shows. (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
3 - Adult
What Happened to Pluto? (Planetarium Show)

Showing through Sunday, January 03
In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union wrote a definition for "planet": a sphere orbiting the Sun that has cleared its neighborhood of debris. Although Pluto is relatively round and orbits the Sun, it's also part of the Kuiper Belt, a band of frigid chunks where Pluto isn't even the biggest object on the block ... (details).

Reservation:
Required at least two weeks in advance
Grades:
K - 8
Winterlight: Stars and Symbols of the Solstice (Planetarium Show)

Opens Tuesday, December 01, 2009
This seasonal program introduces the legends and lore of the winter solstice. (details).