Daily Activities
During your visit, daily activities presented by Adler staff will make your visit memorable and meaningful. Offerings at the Adler engage children and adults alike.
Family programming at the Adler Planetarium is presented by
Planet Explorers’ Gallery see map
Daily, Ages 8 and under
Beyond the Dome Tour
Weekdays: 2:00 p.m.
Weekends: 2:10 p.m.
Cost: $6 per person and $3 per member
Go Beyond the Dome with Adler staff in a personal tour of the Adler’s exhibitions and its all-digital Definiti Space Theater. You will learn about an actual space invader, look through a Galilean telescope, and witness spectacular simulations—not available in any shows!
The Beyond the Dome Tour will be free with general admission during the month of February.
Activity Carts
Dates: Daily
Time: Please see daily activity signs throughout the building for exact times and locations
Cost: Free with general admission
Our activity carts encourage families to use their sense of exploration and their keen observations to discover something new. Facilitated by trained staff and volunteers, these 10-minute hands-on experiences provide families the opportunity to investigate a variety of space science topics. Adler's Activity Carts are facilitated almost everyday.
Please check the daily activity signs for times and locations. This program is free with general admission.
To guarantee flexibility during your visit, our activity carts are accessible on a first come first-served basis.
Explorer's Tool Belt
Our Explorer's Tool Belt is a self-guided activity that expands families' experiences from Planet Explorers to the rest of the museum. The tool belt includes several exploration devices, like a magnifying glass, a map, and much more.
All of the tools belt's devices an activities are intended to help families discover and make connections with NASA artifacts in Adler's Shoot for the Moon and Our Solar System galleries. The Explorer's Tool Belt can be checked out at the Planet Explorers Welcome Desk during open hours and is free with general admission.
Space Visualization Laboratory
Space Visualization Open House
Date: Monday-Friday
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission
In the Space Visualization Lab, visitors can experience the prototypes of new interactive visualizations that will eventually move to other areas of the museum. Visitors can also look behind the scenes at the technology and processes used to construct the visualizations, play with new technology and learn how scientists use data to form images.
Astronomy Conversations
Dates: Monday - Friday
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission
Meet an Adler astronomer or scientist to learn more about planets in our Solar System and beyond. During Astronomy Conversations, visitors can interact with Adler space science and technology experts and talk about ongoing projects. Visit our Space Visualization Laboratory page to see a schedule of upcoming presentations.
KICP Saturdays
Date: Saturdays
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission
Curious about the Universe and those who spend their time trying to understand it? Join us on Saturdays when scientists from the University of Chicago’s Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics host Astronomy Conversations. Be part of the dialogue and exchange of ideas with these dynamic researchers who will provide first hand accounts of forefront research taking place at the South Pole, deep down in mines, on distant mountain peaks in Chile, and in front of computer terminals.
Learn more about the Space Visualization Laboratory.
Telescope Observing
Telescope Terrace
Dates: Mondays and Thursdays
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with general admission
Weather-permitting, view the Sun safely using Adler’s telescopes on the terrace. To guarantee flexibility during your visit, our telescopes are accessible on a first come first-served basis.
Doane Observatory
The Doane features a 20-inch diameter telescope (the largest available to the public in the Chicago area) and smaller telescopes usable for either solar or nighttime observing.
When the weather permits, the Doane is open for evening observing during our monthly Adler After Dark program. The Doane is also open occasionally during the daytime (as weather and staffing permit) to give visitors safe views of our sun. Inquire at the Box Office when you arrive to see if the Doane will be giving tours during your visit. The Doane is also available for private events.
- Around the Adler
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Join Big Bird and his friends on a lunar adventure in One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure.
- Did you know?
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The twelve zodiac signs are represented by sculptures around the building. Can you find yours?
- Get involved
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Have an out of this world birthday party at the Adler this year.
