Upcoming Opportunities

Planetarium

On October 20, 1958, Floyd Blair of the Charles Hayden Foundation threw the switch to light the stars in New England's first major planetarium. Over the ensuing 50 years, millions of patrons have been introduced to the wonders of the universe at the Charles Hayden Planetarium.

This domed, 240-seat facility provides a unique environment for 45-minute-long interactive programs, most featuring a live presenter.

The Planetarium reproduces the night sky for any location on Earth, on any day in years past or in the future, creating a view that simulates the three-dimensional sky. It can accurately reproduce the apparent motions and cycles of the sky in time-lapse fashion, to demonstrate processes that occur over time. More significantly, the Planetarium also creates a highly immersive environment.

These unique strengths enable the Planetarium to present information in ways that other media cannot. With the planned renovations, the Planetarium's potential as an educational venue will be vastly increased, and the Planetarium will engage visitors across the spectrum of science and technology disciplines and topics.

Learn more about opportunities to support the Planetarium renovation.

Premier Partnership

Learn more about our Premier Partner program.

Temporary Exhibits

Wild Music
Opens October 4
Wild Music explores evidence for the biological origins of music through highly interactive exhibits and exceptional sound experiences. In the process, the exhibit expands our understanding of what makes music. Visitors discover that nature is filled with "musicians" that create distinct masterpieces to communicate with and relate to one another. They also explore how human music is inspired by the sounds of other living creatures — from tiny insects to giant whales.

With its multicultural content, careful attention to accessibility, and rich menu of public programs and performances, Wild Music offers broad appeal for diverse, intergenerational audiences.

Learn more about this exhibit.