Heavenly summer programs at AMNH

The American Museum of Natural History has its eyes on the heavens this summer, with special programs on the moon, the stars and the planets, including that unique NYC phenomenon Manhattanhenge.

Get tickets now for one or more of these astronomy programs on Tuesday evenings in July and August at the Hayden Planetarium.

Programs begin at 7PM, and tickets are $15 for adults, $13.50 seniors and students, and $12 for AMNH Members, which is a cheap ticket for space travel.

Tuesday, July 12

• Manhattanhenge – As the half Sun sets on July 12, it will be aligned with Manhattan’s east-west numbered streets, creating cinema-worthy photo opportunities of Manhattan’s brick-and-steel canyons. Museum astrophysicist Jackie Faherty is your guide to the history and astronomy behind this fascinating phenomenon in a special presentation at the Hayden Planetarium.
• Best NYC viewing spots for Manhattanhenge.

Tuesday, July 19

• Come Fly with The MARSBAND – Join Museum Director of Astrovisualization Carter Emmart and the musicians of The MARSBAND, including Keith Patchel and Tenzin Kunsel, for an immersive exploration of the Red Planet. Experience the Martian landscape up close, accompanied by a live performance, as you fly around the planet in an educational, musical meditation.

Tuesday, July 26

• The Grand Tour of the Universe – Where are we among the stars in the Milky Way? Do we hold a special place in the universe? The Grand Tour will answer these questions as you travel from Earth to the most distant objects in the universe, exploring planets, stars, and myriad galaxies using the 3D Digital Universe Atlas. Join Museum educators Emily Rice and Irene Pease to experience the entire observable universe and come to a cosmic understanding of where we are and how we came to be.

Tuesday, August 2

• Grand Illusion: Celestial Motions – Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky, when in fact it remains stationary in our solar system? Why do the constellations appear different in the Northern versus Southern hemispheres? Rutgers astronomer Ted Williams guides you through patterns of celestial motion and explores how our location on Earth determines what we observe in the sky.

Tuesday, August 9

• Our Cosmic Destiny – Join Museum astrophyscists Brian Abbott and Alejandro Núñez as they guide you through the history of the universe, from its early stages just after the Big Bang, to the formation of stars, galaxies, and planets. After examining the past, peer into the future of the universe to discover what will happen to those stars and galaxies, the role black holes will play, and to explore our ultimate fate—the “Big Freeze.”

Tuesday, August 16

• Constellations of the Zodiac – Museum educators Irene Pease and Lydia Maria Petrosino share stories of ancient mythology as they guide you through the night sky to identify the constellations of the zodiac. Find the constellation representing your “sign,” and learn why it may not be visible on your birthday.

Tuesday, August 23

• Things That Go Bang in the Universe – The universe contains an amazing number of exotic, energetic objects that collide and explode with surprising frequency. Museum astrophysicists Jackie Faherty and Mark Popinchalk take you on a tour of the universe using explosions as a guide. From asteroids crashing into planets to supermassive black holes colliding across the cosmos, discover all things that go bang in the night.

Tuesday, August 30

• Countdown to Totality – August 21, 2017, will bring the first complete solar eclipse for the lower 48 states since 1979. The track of the eclipse will cut coast to coast across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Museum educator Joe Rao gives you all the details needed for observing this event and shares a “sneak preview” of what it will look like using the Hayden Planetarium’s Zeiss IX Star Projector.

The American Museum of Natural History  is open daily, 10 am–5:45 pm. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Be sure to visit the world’s largest dinosaur, Titanosaur.

Suggested general admission, which supports the Museum’s scientific and educational endeavors and offers access to the Museum’s 45 halls including the Rose Center for Earth and Space, is $22 (adults), $17 (students/seniors), $12.50 (children). All prices are subject to change. Museum admission is free to all New York City school and camp groups.

There also are discounted combination-ticket prices that include suggested general admission plus special exhibitions, giant-screen 2D or 3D films, and Space Shows.

• Museum Plus One includes one special exhibition, giant-screen 2D or 3D film, or Space Show: $27 (adults), $22 (students/seniors), $16 (children).
• Museum Supersaver includes all special exhibitions, giant-screen 2D or 3D film, and Space Show: $35 (adults), $28 (students/seniors), $22 (children).