Planetarium Jakarta Is Back — Amazing Energy, But the Ticket Setup? Not So Stellar

Photo: The Taman Ismail Marzuki Planetarium in Central Jakarta

reopens after 13 years. (Rumondang Naibaho/detikcom)

Jakarta’s beloved Planetarium at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) is finally back in business after being closed for 13 years, and wow — the public reaction has been absolutely heartwarming. People lined up, eager faces in long queues, and tickets sold out almost immediately. It’s clear that Jakartans missed more than just a building, they missed a place that sparks curiosity, learning, and shared excitement about the universe.

Walking past the queue, you could feel the buzz: families with kids in tow, students chatting excitedly about stars, even grandparents waiting patiently with their grandchildren. It reminded me of my own childhood — how special it felt to sit under a huge dome and watch the stars come alive. That kind of nostalgic joy is something money can’t buy. 

But let’s be honest, amid all that excitement, there’s a little glitch that has most parents scratching their heads: the ticketing system. Right now, visitors must register one email per person to reserve a ticket. On paper, it’s probably meant to help manage crowds. But in real life? It feels like you need to plan a mini admin project just to bring your kids along. Kids don’t have email addresses. Asking a parent to create one per child just to get a ticket? That’s a bit much.

Imagine a family with two kids under 10. Instead of looking forward to a fun learning trip, they’re stuck creating dummy email addresses, clicking confirmations, logging into multiple inboxes — all before even seeing a single star simulation. It’s like having to solve a puzzle to get to the fun part. That shouldn’t be the case for a place meant to ignite curiosity. 

What if, and hear me out — one email could register a family group, like up to 3 or 4 people? Simple, practical, and way more family-friendly. Little changes like that don’t cost a thing but make the experience feel welcome from the start.

Still, there’s something beautiful about seeing so many people celebrate the Planetarium’s return. It shows how much people care about learning, about experiencing something together as a community. And I get it — being surrounded by that crowd, all eager to peer into simulated skies, feels like the city has rediscovered a little spark of wonder.

Just imagine how much sweeter this restart would be if the only thing people talked about afterward wasn’t the long lines or awkward ticket emails — but how magical it felt looking up at stars together.

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Source:

• “Buka Lagi Setelah 13 Tahun Tutup, Planetarium TIM Diserbu Warga,” Detik.com — antrean panjang dan antusiasme pengunjung setelah pembukaan kembali Planetarium di TIM.