Pedro Pascal Narrates 'Encounters in the Milky Way' at Hayden Planetarium

New Space Show at Hayden Planetarium

• 🌌 Encounters in the Milky Way is a new space show at the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium.
• 🚀 Narrated by Pedro Pascal, the show takes viewers on a time-traveling journey through the Milky Way, exploring galactic migration and its impact on our solar system.

Scientific Storytelling and Discovery

• 👩‍🔬 Astrophysicist Jackie Farad served as the scientific storyteller for the show, ensuring the science is accurate and grounded.
• 💡 While working on a scene featuring the Oort Cloud, Farad and her team discovered a spiral structure within its simulation, explained by the solar system's orientation to the galaxy and the galactic tide.
• 🌠 This spiral structure, a result of the galactic tide plucking at comets, creates a gorgeous shape that can be observed in the show.

Pedro Pascal's Narration

• 🗣️ Pedro Pascal was chosen as the narrator partly as a tribute to astronomy, given his Chilean heritage and the fact that the world's best telescopes are located in Chile.
• ✨ His voice is described as soothing, drawing listeners into the story of the Milky Way.

Understanding Manhattanhenge

• 🌇 Manhattanhenge occurs when the sunset aligns perfectly with Manhattan's grid, framing the sun between buildings in a spectacular display.
• 🗓️ It happens twice a year, around the summer solstice, with dates in May and July.
• 📍 Jackie Farad is the calculator for Manhattanhenge, ensuring the precise timing for this event.
• 🌉 A recommended viewing spot is 42nd Street near Grand Central, offering a safe vantage point above the street.