Buzz
While space lovers traditionally flock to the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, starting December 9, they can explore stars and planets at a new destination in nearby Jersey City. According to Astronomy, New Jersey’s second-most populous city is now home to the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere and ranks fourth in size worldwide.
The Liberty Science Center, an interactive science museum located in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, was opened in 1993. The museum features 12 exhibition halls, aquariums, a live animal collection, and an IMAX dome theater. On July 31, 2017, the theater closed for major renovations, made possible by a generous $5 million donation from Jennifer Chalsty, a former high school teacher and philanthropist who has served as a science center trustee since 2004.
Now known as the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the IMAX theater underwent a digital upgrade, including a new screen and the necessary technology to transform it into a planetarium. The theater’s dome stands 60 feet tall with an 89-foot diameter, and its 10-projector system projects onto a vast 12,345-square-foot domed screen.
Only three planetariums worldwide are larger than the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, and all of them are located in China and Japan. According to Paul Hoffman, the president and CEO of the science center, 'You can fit any other planetarium in the Western Hemisphere inside the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium.' He continued, 'With its cutting-edge technology, this planetarium offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Visitors will be able to soar through the universe, witness the immense expanse of space, explore planetary landscapes, navigate through asteroid fields, and enjoy the latest full-dome films.'
