Research and Collections

When Max Adler founded the Adler Planetarium in 1930, he recognized the complementary roles of a planetarium and astronomical artifacts. Adler purchased a collection of about 500 astronomical, navigational, and mathematical instruments from Anton Mensing in the Netherlands, which was the foundation for the museum's collection.

The Adler Collections Database is temporarily unavailable. Please check back periodically or contact astrohistory@adlerplanetarium.org for assistance.

Image to the right: Detail of a horizontal garden sundial, M-286, made of Solnhofener limestone and bearing the coded date 1719.

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.

In this working laboratory, scientists, technicians, artists, and educators work together to create new ways for people to explore the universe.

When Max Adler founded the Adler Planetarium in 1930, he recognized the complementary roles of a planetarium and astronomical artifacts and provided the start to the Adler's extensive collection. The Webster Institute at the Adler is home to a significant collection of instruments, library of rare and modern books, a collection of works on paper, and the Adler Planetarium's Institutional Archives.

The Adler is proud to partner with NASA on a number of exciting projects. Our role ranges from education and public outreach to space science research.

The Adler partners with the Citizen Science Alliance to promote the science of discovery by involving the public in academic research. The Department of Citizen Science at the Adler works on a collection of citizen science projects within the Zooniverse umbrella.

The Adler is home to researchers specializing in space science, history, collection preservation, education, exhibition design, and more. Meet a few of our researchers and learn about what they are working on at the Adler.

If you would like to reproduce an image or an object in the Adler's extensive collection, you will need to obtain rights permission. Learn more about rights and reproductions at the Adler.

Image at right: Illustration of an armillary sphere from the Temmon Zukai (Japan, QB41.T4 1688  volume 1)

Adler staff actively publish research in a variety of formats, written for both colleagues and the general public. Discover recent publications from our staff.

Image to the right: Astrolabe Kit (see Available Publications below).

Have a question about our research and collections? Check our frequently asked questions to learn more.

Image at right: © David Paul Ohmer