Adler Planetarium
The Basics
The Adler Planetarium incorporates legacy spaces, like the Atwood Sphere (the oldest planetarium in Chicago), with newer offerings like immersive theaters that screen different celestial shows. Companion exhibitions range from Mission Moon—which lets you discover real spacecraft—and Our Solar System, an introduction to Earth’s nearby planets.
Visit the Adler Planetarium as part of Chicago’s CityPASS or drop by on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city. Get tickets in advance and plan a museum day out at the nearby Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum of Natural History too.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Adler Planetarium is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Guide dogs are also welcome, and wheelchairs can be rented on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is parking available across the Museum Campus, and the Adler Planetarium maintains its own dedicated lot.
The museum is accessible to visitors with young children and offers play areas and Young Explorers’ Mondays, complete with special events and activities.
The Adler Planetarium hosts an on-site store, cafe, and free Wi-Fi; a paid coat check is also on site.
How to Get There
The Adler Planetarium is found on Chicago’s Museum Campus—part of Grant Park—and on Lake Shore Drive. If traveling via public transportation, take the Red, Orange and Green lines to Roosevelt station, or ME and SSL trains to Museum Campus/ 11th Street. Alternatively, use bus lines 130 or 146, or travel via bike, on foot, or by car.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The Adler Planetarium is open daily from morning to midafternoon, with extended hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The planetarium is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
The Doane Observatory
The Adler Planetarium also sponsors the Doane Observatory, the largest publicly available aperture telescope in the region. The observatory is located behind the main museum building and offers periodic (and fully safe) daytime viewing of the sun, as well as evening stargazing sessions.
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