The Hayden Planetarium Space Theater will open its doors at the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday with limited capacity after a year of closure. Although the museum reopened in September, the planetarium remained closed until cinemas across the city opened again, which was allowed earlier this month.
Viewers can watch “Worlds Beyond Earth”, a film by actress Lupita Nyong’o, which takes the audience on a journey (based on real data from NASA’s space missions) through the solar system. It opened about two months before the lockdown and was the museum’s first new space exhibit in more than six years. Although the planetarium can accommodate up to 429 people, only 48 are allowed per performance.
“This kind of approach of filling the display with the latest science and data connects you like never before,” said Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the planetarium. “I see the Hayden Planetarium as the public connection to the cosmos.”
“The levels of investigation are endless, and the deeper you go, the more real the place becomes to you,” he added.
From 10:30 a.m. there will be seven performances per day. Visitors must register for timed tickets in advance.