3rd Saturday of every month, 10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den every 3rd Saturday of the month to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is designed for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. Families are encouraged to explore the galleries on their own after the program. Pick up a Small Explorers gallery cards throughout the Museum.
Oct. 18, reading “Lawrence in the Fall” by Matthew Farina, illustrator Doug Salati
Nov. 15, reading “Rock Your Mocs” by Laurel Goodluck, illustrator Madelyn Goodnight
Dec. 20, reading “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner, illustrator Christopher Silas Neal
October 24, 6:00 pm
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:00 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends we will drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to . Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
October 25, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come enjoy fun, spooky activities and games at our annual Halloween event! Enjoy making slime and playing games, then participate in the trick or treat costume parade at 12:00 pm. Don’t forget to pick up a coupon for $2 off any Planetarium show that day.
November 15, 4:15 pm
Speaker: Joshua Shterenberg, Princeton University
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. A century of physics has placed a singular moment of the creation of the universe---the “big bang”---squarely in the public eye as a fact about our world. How well does this hold up? In the last few decades, better data and better theories have exposed many holes in this story, and a paradigm shift might be in order... Save a .
December 6, 4:15 pm
Speaker: Michael Pedowitz, NJ State Museum Planetarium Technician
Trying to catch a shooting star? Join us in the planetarium to learn about the Geminid and Quadrantid meteor showers, including when, where, and how to look for them. We'll also talk about other small objects in our Solar System, such as comets and asteroids, which are deeply connected with both meteor showers and the history of our planet. Reserve your seat and discover these amazing visitors from outer space!
December 20, 4:15 pm
An Astronomer’s View on Climate: Milankovitch Cycles
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. Over the last 800,000 years glacial ice caps miles deep advanced and retreated across North America at least eight times. These cyclic changes in Earth climate are connected to small cyclic variations in Earth’s orbit called Milankovitch cycles. Join us in the planetarium to hear about how astronomy and climate science are intimately connected, and how New Jersey rocks have something to say about these cycles! Save a .
Small Explorers is the Museum’s program for families with children ages 1-5. Hundreds of families have experienced the magic of exploring the Museum in these sessions and now you can too! Two session options are offered each month, the 2nd Saturday or the following Thursday, at 9:30 am and are limited to 20 children per session. Sessions meets in our Discovery Den play space and begins with an interactive story time. Families move together to playfully explore a gallery and end in our classroom space with thematic activity stations including a craft to take home. Sessions are designed to maximize caregiver-child interaction and connect with a community of families to share in exploration. Each session is 45 minutes long and meet October to June.
Cost: Session are $20 per child, each additional sibling receives a 20% discount. Caregivers attend free. New Jersey State Museum Foundation members receive 10% off. Tickets for each session are sold on Humanitix, links will shared on the Museum’s Events Calendar.
If you are not on our mailing list but would like to learn more please contact Devra.Hock-Reid@sos.nj.gov.
