How can you excite today’s students, all born as digital natives? Wow them with technology.
In the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City, New Jersey, audience members can take a seat under an 89-foot-diameter domed screen and see astonishingly detailed images projected in 88 million pixels and 281 trillion colors.
The new planetarium seats over 350 people per show and is located directly across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan.
It’s the largest, most technologically-advanced planetarium on this side of the globe and wows students with a resolution of over 30 times the best currently available HD TV.
Student groups attending December previews of the newly opened facility were electrified by the experience, swaying with every twist and turn of the cosmic joyride and gripping the arms of their seats as they soared over planetary surfaces and dodged through fields of tumbling asteroids.
Audiences will visit remote corners of the universe seeing beautiful star nurseries, glowing quasars and a variety of remote worlds. Each show includes a live segment on current celestial happenings led by an experienced science educator.
When the show is over, there are still 12 exhibit halls to explore along with an aquarium, live animal collection and, during summer months, an outdoor obstacle course.
Students can challenge themselves to climb up—over 35 feet above the floor—on the Infinity Climber; navigate the pitch-black Touch Tunnel maze; and even watch a live surgical procedure taking place at a nearby hospital, talking to the Operating Room team throughout the procedure. Through May 28, groups can also extend the space theme by including Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience on their visit to LSC.
When planning a trip to the NYC area, be sure to check out the lower hotel, parking and meal costs to be found in downtown Jersey City. Considered by many to be the latest NYC-area hotspot, Jersey City features hip restaurants and fine accommodations located just one subway stop from lower Manhattan.
Courtesy of Liberty Science Center, located in Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, New Jersey. For details about visiting the new Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science, visit LSC.org, call 201.253.1310 or e-mail sales@LSC.org.