Slightly confused as to how the ticketing works at MOMA. Would like to visit the van Gogh exhibit on a Thursday afternnon in October. I am worried about lines and long waits. Do I go early in the morning and get a entry time or do I go later in the afternoon? What's is the best strategy?

Here is the description from MOMA's website:

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Please note: Gallery occupancy is limited and timed entry is necessary to visit this exhibition. Your regular Museum admission will permit you to all other Museum galleries, exhibitions, and films, but access to Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night will require a separate, timed-entry ticket (at no additional charge), available at the exhibition entrance on the second floor. The next available entry time will be noted on this ticket. Timed-entry tickets are first come, first served, so it is possible that no tickets to Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night will be available at the time of your visit.
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It sounds like a a bit of a gamble. I suspect the earlier in the day you go, the better your chances of getting in that day. By noon, they may have distributed the timed entry tickets for the entire day.

Actually, one thing from the quoted language confuses me too....do you have to take the "next available" time, or can you go early and ask for a specific later time?

You can ask for a specific later time - but they may or may not have it.

Museum members have first call on these tickets - and some very popular times may already be sold out before tickets are made available to the general public.

smoot60,

You mentioned Thursday but if you are there on a Friday it's free.

Target sponsors it from 4PM to 8PM (closing).

We were in NYC last weekend. We arrived early afternoon and it started to rain so we walked over to MOMA about 3:15 and got into a 100 yard line.

At about 3:45 they began to let people in from the line. It took about 5 minutes to get in.

When we left a couple of hours later people were still coming in from a very, very short line.

I imagine the waiting time once the initial line got in was not more than a few minutes.

but this is what the website says about buying your tickets online:

Online ticket buyers: Purchasing general admission tickets online will allow you guaranteed access to the galleries presenting Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night on the day of your visit at the next available entry time of your choice.

Myer, I have also found that going a little later on Fridays works well, BUT the Van Gogh exhibit had not yet started when you were here. It is expected to bring in huge crowds, including on Fridays