Seeing Stars at the Adler Planetarium

Chicago’s Adler Planetarium is probably the most-overlooked of all of the city’s museums. And while it may not have the jaw-dropping exhibits (a giant T-Rex skeleton, for example) of the some of the others, it’s still worth a visit, particularly for any avid stargazer.

The Adler isn’t my favorite of Chicago’s museums; I confess I found myself a bit disappointed in some of the exhibits which were a bit heavy on the reading. While those are great for kids and adults who are fascinated by space, younger kids and those with shorter attention spans might not be as enthralled. There are some hands on exhibitions and informative demos to help kids and adults learn about the wonders of the universe, I just wish there were more. If space is your passion, spring for the extra tickets to  attend special movies or explore the night sky from a seat in the Adler’s theater, where stars are projected onto the ceiling for viewing.

Admission: General admission is $10 for adults and $6 for kids under 14. Chicago residents get a discount. Shows and guided tours are extra, though there are several free days scattered throughout the year. Check out the schedule online.

Hours: The Adler is open daily from 10am to 4pm (until 4:30pm on weekends). On Thursdays, it stays open late for “Adler After Dark” which takes place on the third Thursday of every month from 6pm to 10pm.

Getting here: The Adler Planetarium is located on Museum Campus. The nearest el stop is at Roosevelt and State and the #146 bus heads down Michigan Avenue and drops passengers right at the Adler door.

Photo by thomas.merton