Chicago, IL

Summary of Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

photo by gusto

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

1300 S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-7827

www.adlerplanetarium.org

You can see stars without hitting your head. Come visit the universe at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, America’s first planetarium. Opened in 1930, the ever-evolving Adler offers amazing opportunities to learn about the universe around us. In the Sky Theater, lean back in a comfy reclining chair and watch as the massive, complex Zeiss planetarium projects a dynamic, changing nighttime sky, storm on Venus, or rapidly forming star cluster on the 68-foot dome overhead. In the StarRider Theater, explore new galaxies in the world’s first interactive computer graphics theater. Programs in these theaters change often, so even if you’ve visited the Adler before, there will be something new to view. Then, in the many exhibits, you can learn to steer by the stars as the ancients did, drive a rover on Mars, learn your weight on Jupiter, take a 3-D tour of the Milky Way, and review the history of space travel. In addition to exhibits that recreate the universe, on a clear night, you can look at the real thing in the Doane Observatory, where a state-of-the-art, 20-inch reflecting telescope is focused on the heavens. The handsome, semi-circular, domed Adler Planetarium sits on a point of land that stretches into Lake Michigan—and which happens to be one of the best locations for getting great photos of Chicago’s skyline.

Reviews

Great for astronomy buffs

Reviewed by Josh M on February 16, 2007

Josh M's rating:

"As a huge astronomy buff, I loved this place. And it’s a great place to take kids too, lots of stuff to do. It’s close to the Shedd Aquarium, so if you’re stopping in there, be sure to swing by Adler."

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It was Ok

Reviewed by beth0603 on February 03, 2007

beth0603's rating:

"We went here to get out of the cold and because it was free admission at the time. Some parts were interesting and I know it would be great for kids and for field trips. They had a lot of hands on demonstrations. But I have to say that overall we were a little bored.."

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Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum review

Reviewed by family on September 25, 2005

family's rating:

"Let’s just say that my husband, Mike, was the one who had to be dragged out of this attraction. It was by far his favorite part of the trip. (Who knew he secretly wanted to be an astronaut?) The Adler Planetarium is really cool, I must say. It is the country’s first planetarium, opened in 1930, which I think is fascinating. The girls were less interested in the history and more interested in the Sky Theater, where you sit back and watch the stars and sky on the overhead dome. There is an exhibit where you learn to steer using the stars, like they did in ancient times. Learning your weight on Jupiter is another fun exhibit, as is driving a rover. All in all, it’s fun and educational, a bonus for us moms! Don’t forget to take a pic – there are some great views of the city."

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