Daily
Show times are subject to change. Please check at the Museum entrances for the specific show times on the day of your visit.
Tickets
Our youngest visitors are invited to join us as we use our imaginations to see animal shapes in the sky. This FREE 15-minute program is designed to be an introduction to the planetarium for little ones and their families.
Join us for a 30-minute live show to explore the summer evening sky. We will visit our closest neighbor in space, the Moon, before examining Venus, the planet that will be prominently visible all summer long. We will then explore the constellations of summer—Ursa Major the Big Bear, Scorpius the Scorpion, and Cygnus the Swan, among others. Finally, learn how sailors used the stars to navigate across the ocean.
What part did the phase of the Moon play in keeping Paul Revere concealed from the British during his famous ride? How were comets and meteors seen as omens during the period leading up to and into the Civil War? How did the forces of gravity between the Earth and the Moon affect the planning of the D-Day landing at Normandy? Join us as we explore the fascinating ways in which the night sky has played a role in some of the most iconic moments in American history.
Since 1960, the Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport Museum has been a center for science education, inspiring visitors to draw connections between our maritime history and the world and skies around us. When we look up at the sky, we see the very same stars that guided sailors long ago, as they developed their navigational tools and instruments. We have come a long way from the compass and sextant to the GPS units that many of our smartphones have. In order to truly appreciate the technological luxuries we enjoy today, it is more important now than ever to preserve the traditions of the past.
Your family can participate in all of our shows at the Treworgy Planetarium, each one a live program delivered by a dynamic member of the Planetarium staff. Come see the sun, moon, planets, and stars like you’ve never seen them before! You will be immersed in a sea of stars, and the constellations will guide us on an unforgettable journey through the galaxy.
If you’re wondering how our name is pronounced, think “TRUE-urr-gee.” Originally named the “Seaport Planetarium,” the Planetarium was re-named in 2009 in memory of Don Treworgy. Don worked at the Planetarium for 48 years, including 44 years as the Director, and was beloved by the Museum’s staff, volunteers, and visitors. The current staff is honored to work at a Planetarium that bears Don’s name, and his memory inspires us to continue the mission of education in the fields of astronomy, navigation, and maritime history.
Phone: 860-572-0711 x5151
See additional classes offered in SeaClass.