Learn about the future of space exploration, experience an Earth-shattering explosion as an enormous meteorite crashes into Arizona and explore the people, events, and phenomena that shape our understanding of the Universe.

Highlights of the Adler Planetarium:
 

	Interactive Exhibit Galleries
	Historical space collections and artifacts
	America's Courtyard - a sculpture which captures the change of the season, the spirit of ancient observatories, and embodies the spiral shape of galaxies
	Galileo's Cafe - Provides an unforgettable view of Chicago skyline
	Rainbow Lobby - If the Sun is in the west, light coming through the beveled glass in the entrance doors creates dozens of small rainbows on the walls
	Sundial Plaza - The magnificent 13-foot bronze sundial, entitled Man Enters the Cosmos, is a perfectly functional scientific instrument. It is an equatorial sundial, a form which goes back to the Renaissance. Its particular shape is regarded as the most accurate geometric form in which a sundial can be made
	Terraces - Unparalleled view of Chicago's skyline and night sky. The North terrace is accessible year-round for photography and up-close observing of the city's world-famous architecture through 3 permanent telescopes.

Experience the Adler as never before! The Adler Planetarium offers visitors a journey through time and space by exploring the museum's world-class exhibits and famous collections.

The Adler Planetarium 'America's First Planetarium' was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. The museum is home to three full-size planetarium theaters, including the all-digital projection Definiti Space Theater and one of the world's most important antique instrument collections. The Adler is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities, to pursue careers in science.

Exhibit Galleries:

Atwood Sphere - Chicago's oldest planetarium, was constructed in 1913. The sphere is 15 feet in diameter with 692 holes drilled through its metal surface, allowing light to enter and show the positions of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Bringing The Heavens To Earth - This exhibit features some of the cultures of the world that have, throughout time, engaged in the timeless quest to understand their place in the Universe, and found diverse ways to incorporate astronomy into their daily lives.

CyberSpace - CyberSpace is the future of museum going experiences. It features computer-based interactive exhibits, VisionStations providing realistic immersive experiences of the Universe, and a CyberClassroom for up to date information on current Astronomy.

From The Night Sky To The Big Bang - Located in the Pritzker Cosmology Gallery, the exhibit traces the changing views of the cosmos and highlights 1,000 years of astronomical discovery. Treasures from the Adler's world-renowned collection of historical astronomical instruments, including the 1864 Dearborn Telescope, are exhibited in this gallery.

Our Solar System - Explore the many worlds 'planets, moons, comets and asteroids' that orbit the Sun. Drive a rover that's examining the surface of Mars, shoot projectiles into a soft surface to size up the craters they leave behind, and finally, sit down at a computer to build your own solar system and test its stability over time.

Shoot For The Moon - A permanent exhibit that highlights the exciting stories of space exploration and America's bold plans to travel to the Moon. The exhibit begins with A Journey with Jim Lovell, featuring the fully restored Gemini 12 spacecraft and the Lovell Collection of personal space artifacts. In Mission: Moon, young visitors discover the thrills and dangers of being an explorer and imagine their own futures in space. Activities include the Moon Wall, Lunar Leap, and Moon scale!

Space Visualization Laboratory - presents the unique experience of a working visualization laboratory to museum visitors. Various projects are being developed all the time, and new devices are being tested. Visitors can interact with them at SVL, and meet Adler experts in an exciting and engaging environment while contributing their feedback. These interactions help in the creation of new experiences. SVL is open for one hour on weekdays, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm during which visitors can go behind the glass and talk to Adler space science and technology experts about on-going projects.

Universe In Your Hands - Learn about a time in history when people believed that the Earth was the center of the Universe. The exhibit features spectacular astrolabes, armillary spheres, and sundials to illustrate the medieval European and Middle Eastern conception of the Universe.

Planet Explorers - 3-2-1 Blast off! Get ready for the ultimate planetary play date. The Adler's new permanent exhibition lets families with children ages 3 - 8 take the helm in this modern-day space adventure. Be a Mission Control Specialist guiding the next rocket flight into space, or climb a gantry like a real astronaut. In the space station, learn how to operate the robotic arm to do important tasks and take a very special walk into space. Try your hand at planet exploration by driving rovers over the Planet X terrain. Drive X-MOVERS, crawl through and discover secret tunnels, and do cool experiments in the Planet X Research Station.

Intriguing Facts about the Adler: The planetarium is built on what once was an artificial island on Lake Michigan. Northerly Island, as it is called, was the first of what was to be a series of artificial islands stretching south. The permanent land link was constructed soon after the planetarium was built.

In 1933, light from the star Arcturus was converted into electrical signals, sent to the Adler and used to turn on the lights at the World's Fair on opening night.

The Adler houses one of the world's finest collections of astronomical artifacts, including treasures such as the world's oldest known window sundial (dated 1529) and a telescope made by William Herschel. Some of the oldest artifacts in the collection date back to 12th century Persia.

The years since the founding of the planetarium have seen remarkable growth in our understanding of the nature and extent of the Universe, including landings by Americans on the Moon and the exploration by space probes of most of the planets in the solar system. The Adler Planetarium has welcomed this growth of knowledge by keeping pace with the times, leading its millions of visitors to a better understanding of the Universe, and placing itself on the leading edge among science museums as it enters the 21st century.

Get your eTicket today and visit the Adler Planetarium - truly a museum for the new millennium, secure in its past, launching into the future and offering the present in a whole new light!