NEWARK, N.J. — Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will appear at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. with “Hope for Civilization,” an evening talk in Prudential Hall.
Tyson, the longtime director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York and one of the country’s best-known science communicators, is built for a big room. His talks mix astronomy, physics and pop culture, and he has a knack for making cosmic-scale ideas land with audiences who have not thought about them since high school.
This program turns his attention from the stars to the people looking at them. NJPAC describes the evening as a look at human civilization “through a scientific lens,” and says it is “inspired by Dr. Tyson’s book, Starry Messenger.” That 2022 book argues that the perspective science offers — about evidence, scale and our place in the universe — can help people think more clearly about politics, culture and conflict here on Earth.
The arts center pitches the night with a provocation of its own: “You think you understand humans.”
The show is part of NJPAC’s Columbia Bank Family Series, and the center lists it under both its conversations and family programming, making it a candidate for families with older children and teens who are curious about science. NJPAC does not list a minimum age for the event.
Tickets are sold through NJPAC’s website, which links to Ticketmaster; the event page does not list prices. As of this week, the event was shown as having tickets available.
NJPAC’s website links to parking reservations through ParkWhiz and posts accessibility information for patrons who need accommodations.
Details
When: Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark (Essex County)
Cost: Ticketed; prices not listed on the event page
Event information
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