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Far Out Fridays
Something New Every Month
The First Friday of Every Month, 4:30-10:00 pm
Note: Due to July 4th celebrations, Far Out Friday in July will be held on Friday, July 11.
![]() Enjoy the spectacle of the starry sky as you experience Far Out Fridays at the Adler Planetarium on the first Friday of every month! Scope out the many activities including educational activities for children and families, telescope viewing of the night sky, unlimited shows in the historic Sky Theater and the world's first StarRider Theater, periodic lectures by leading space science specialists and Adler astronomers, and Doane Observatory tours.
Learn how to use your new or old telescope. Bring your scope with you and Adler staff and volunteers will help you set it up and practice using it (weather permitting). Check out activities in the CyberSpace Classroom including Who Wants to be a Martian? trivia game show.
For admission prices go to our Plan a Visit page.
Upcoming Themes
June - Cosmic Collisions
July - Outer Planets August - The Sun September - Telescopes The lectures below are included as part of Far Out Friday admission. Advance registration is not available, and lecture-only admission is not available. Seating is first come, first served.
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November 7, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Smithsonian Historian - Michael J. Neufeld As part of Far Out Friday, Smithsonian historian Michael J. Neufeld will present a talk on his new book "Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War", a candid look at Wernher von Braun, father of the U.S. rocketry program.
This book is the first authoritative biography of Wernher von Braun, chief rocket engineer of the Third Reich–creator of the infamous V-2 rocket–who became one of the fathers of the U.S. space program. In this meticulously researched and vividly written life, Michael J. Neufeld gives us a man of profound moral complexities, glorified as a visionary and vilified as a war criminal, a man whose brilliance and charisma were coupled with an enormous and, some would say, blinding ambition.
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Handsome and likable, von Braun dedicated himself to selling the American public on interplanetary travel and became a household name in the 1950s, appearing on Disney TV shows and writing for popular magazines. But he never fully escaped his past, and in later years he faced increasing questions as his wartime actions slowly came to light.
Based on new sources, Von Braun is a brilliantly nuanced portrait of a man caught between morality and progress, between his dreams of the heavens and the earthbound realities of his life.
Copies of "Von Braun" will be available for signing immediately following the talk.
At the October 5, 2007, Far Out Friday celebrating Sputnik and the dawn of the Space Age, we asked visitors to compose a poem inspired by satellite photography. Although all the entries were excellent, these three were judged the best by Adler staff:
By Carmen M.
Satellites show me the world Satellites bring the world closer to me Satellites show me how small I am and how wonderful and beautiful our world is. Satellite, help me show the world Our planet is a place to be concerned for the next generation Satellite, satellite, show me the world By Greg K.
In the shining light of day before the Sun tucks itself away I watch the sky (not gonna lie) for signs and stars When the Sun leaves its lofty space By Sean M.
Human sensation reaching outward eyes, ears, antennae all reaching out for so long we've looked and now we see that which is you and me all around us floating free Looking closer, ever deeper into the womb of our universe Since our birth we have watched her change random chance and dynamic flux |
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