Adler Planetarium

Astronomy

Guest peers through the Doane Observatory to catch a glimpse of the night sky.

Look Up!

The Adler has taken the lead among planetariums world-wide in establishing an astronomy and astrophysics research group in a museum setting. Our astronomers possess rich and diverse expertise in many areas of astronomy as well as other closely related science fields, such as particle physics and geophysics. Their studies include planetary geology, star formation, gamma-rays, and telescope observing.

Adler’s Astronomy Department actively publishes research in a variety of formats, written for both colleagues and the general public. Learn more about the the department's mission, featured projects and publications on this page.

The Forefront of Research

Adler Astronomy Department Mission

  • Conduct forefront research in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology, while effectively integrating research programs with public outreach.
  • Be a leading resource in conveying the methodology, concepts and discoveries of astronomy to the public.
  • Provide content for Adler projects that convey the process of science.
  • Be a leading center of highly skilled science interpreters, who can effectively bridge the gap between the research and educational communities, and help train other scientists to become more effective in their outreach efforts.

Several members of the Adler Astronomy Department also hold joint appointments at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. These joint appointments strengthens the integration of the Adler and its educational mission with the research community

Featured Astronomy Projects

Asteroid Characterization

Geza Gyuk, Ph.D.
Mark Hammergren, Ph.D.

The Adler's Asteroid Characterization group is carrying out a program of visible to near-infrared spectroscopy using the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-meter telescope to search for asteroids that are fragments of the destroyed planetesimals. The identification of these fragments provides important information on the early history of our Solar System.

Adler Star Formation Group

Grace Wolf-Chase, Ph.D.
Chris Lintott, Ph.D.
Kim Arvidsson, Ph.D.

Through infrared and radio astronomy, the Adler Star Formation Group is learning about the processes that are important in building new stars. We are also part of the science team for the Milky Way Project, a Citizen Science project that is part of the Zooniverse.

Veritas

Larry Ciupik, M.S.
Jeff Grube, Ph.D.
Geza Gyuk, Ph.D.

Since 2004, the Adler has been an official science team member of the VERITAS collaboration, participating in the construction of four 12-meter gamma-ray telescopes at Mt. Hopkins in southern Arizona. The array, completed in April 2007, maps the northern sky in gamma ray energies from 50 GeV to 50 TeV.

Publications

The Interstellar Bubbles of G38.9-0.4 and the Impact of Stellar Feedback on Star Formation, Alexander, M.J., Kobulnicky, H.A., Kerton, C.K., & Arvidsson, K., ApJ, accepted (2013)

Massive Star Formation, Outflows, and Anomalous H2 Emission in Mol 121 (IRAS 20188+3928),  Wolf-Chase, G., Arvidsson, K., Smutko, M., & Sherman, R., ApJ 762, 87-97 (2013)

Near-infrared and Millimeter-wavelength Observations of Mol 160: A Massive Young Protostellar Core, Wolf-Chase, G., Smutko, M., Sherman, R., Harper, D.A., & Medford, M., ApJ 745, 116-128 (2012)

The Milky Way Project First Data Release: A Bubblier Galactic Disc, Simpson, R. et al. (various Milky Way Project team members, including K. Arvidsson & G. Wolf-Chase), MNRAS 424, 2442-2460 (2012)

The Milky Way Project: A Statistical Study of Massive Star Formation Associated with Infrared Bubbles, Kendrew, S. et al. (various Milky Way Project team members, including G. Wolf-Chase), ApJ 755, 71-85 (2012)

Submillimeter and Molecular Views of Three Galactic Ring-like H II Regions, Arvidsson, K. & Kerton, C.K., AJ 141, 153-165 (2011)

A Sample of Intermediate-mass Star-forming Regions: Making Stars at Mass Column Densities  < 1 g cm^{-2}, Arvidsson, K., Kerton, C.R., Alexander, M.J., Kobulnicky, H.A., & Uzpen, B., AJ 140, 462-479 (2010)

IRS Scan-mapping of the Wasp-waist Nebula (IRAS 16253-2429). I. Derivation of Shock Conditions from H2 Emission and Discovery of 11.3 m PAH Absorption, Barsony, M., Wolf-Chase, G.A., Ciardi, D.R., & O'Linger, J., ApJ 720, 64-86 (2010)

Planetary-Scale Terrain Composition, R. Kooima, J. Leigh, A. Johnson, D. Roberts, M. SubbaRao, T. DeFanti, IEEE TVCG Vol. 15, No. 5, 719 (2009).

Radio Imaging of the Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Region in the Central Engine of a Radio Galaxy, the VERITAS Collaboration, The VLBA 43 GHz M 87 Monitoring Team, the H.E.S.S. Collaboration, the MAGIC Collaboration, Science, 325, 444 (2009).

Multiwavelength Observations of LS I +61° 303 with VERITAS, Swift, and RXTE, V. Acciari et al. (the VERITAS collaboration--including L. Ciupik, L. Fortson, J. Grube, G. Gyuk, N. Karlsson and D. Steele), ApJ 700, 103-1041 (2009).

Evidence of Long-Term Gamma-Ray and X-Ray Variability from the Unidentified TeV Source HESS J0632+057, V. Acciari et al. (the VERITAS collaboration--including L. Ciupik, L. Fortson, J. Grube, G. Gyuk, N. Karlsson and D. Steele), ApJL 698 No. 2, L133-L97 (2009).

Observation of Extended Very High Energy Emission from the Supernova Remnant IC 443 with VERITAS, V. Acciari et al. (the VERITAS collaboration--including L. Ciupik, L. Fortson, J. Grube, G. Gyuk, N. Karlsson and D. Steele), ApJL 698 No. 2, L137 (2009)