Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Special Events

Lectures, Tours, and More

National Astronomy Day 2008

Phoenix Arrives at Mars!

Siberian Total Solar Eclipse & Grand Waterways of the Czars

Mysteries of Machu Picchu and the Incan Sky

The Adler Goes Green

Far Out Friday Lecture - Smithsonian Historian Michael J. Neufeld

National Astronomy Day 2008

Saturday, May 10

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

It's National Astronomy Day, and there's no better place to celebrate it than at the Adler Planetarium. Enjoy hands-on activities all about the Sun!

Activities are free with paid museum admission. No reservations are needed for educational activities. Scheduled activities include the following:

Grab free giveaways from Astronomy Magazine!
Make a Solar Oven or a Pocket Sundial to take home
See Northwestern University's 'Nergy solar car up close, currently on display at the Adler Planetarium
Tour the Doane Observatory, home to Chicago's largest publicly accessible telescope (weather permitting)
See the Sun safely through our solar telescopes, including in the Doane Observatory (weather permitting)
Learn about the solar spectrum in our "Solar Fingerprints" activity

Note: The activity schedule is subject to change without prior notice.)

Astronomy Day events at the Adler Planetarium are supported by Astronomy Magazine and Meade 4M. On Astronomy Day, don't miss your chance to sign up for the Meade ETX-80TC telescope giveaway or one of three one-year subscriptions to Astronomy Magazine! Entry forms for drawings will be available beginning at 1pm. Drawings will be held at 3:45 pm. Winner need not be present to win. Winner is responsible for telescope shipping costs or picking up the telescope from the Adler Planetarium.

Phoenix Arrives at Mars!

Sunday, May 25

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

NASA's next major Mars mission arrives at the Red Planet on Memorial Day weekend! The Mars Phoenix spacecraft will land at approximately 6:53 pm CDT on Sunday, May 25, 2008. Phoenix will land at a point that is farther north than any previous Mars mission, giving scientists an up-close glimpse of the Martian tundra for the first time. Come and watch the event on NASA-TV with Adler staff on hand to answer your Mars questions! The event will also feature interactive demonstrations about Mars and the Mars Phoenix mission.

The Lower Level exhibits will remain open with free building admission from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. StarRider Theater shows will be available at 4:45 pm and 5:30 pm for $7 per person per show.
Adler staff will facilitate the event beginning at 5 pm in the Universe Theater. Admission to the landing event is free; seating is first-come, first served. NASA will broadcast live from Phoenix Mission Control on NASA-TV beginning at 5 pm CDT, with live NASA-TV commentary beginning at 6 pm CDT.
Phoenix lands at approximately 6:53 pm CDT. We will await word of the status of the landing.

We hope that Mars Phoenix will transmit images prior to the end of this event, but this will be unknown until NASA receives word of the success of the landing.

Please check here for more event specifics as the landing day approaches!

Note:

The activity schedule is subject to change without prior notice.
Galileo's Cafe will close at 3:30 pm.
The Adler's Upper Level exhibits (Our Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, and Shoot for the Moon) will close at 4:30 pm for a previously scheduled private event.

Siberian Total Solar Eclipse & Grand Waterways of the Czars

Adler Travel presents

July 18-August 2, 2008

Book your reservation now! This tour is nearly sold out!

See one of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena - a total solar eclipse! But first, take a river cruise with the Adler through Russia's greatest cities: Moscow and St. Petersberg. Highlights include the Kremlin, Red Square, Europe's second-largest lake, the opulent Winter Palace of the czars, and the Hermitage. On-board astronomy programs will prepare you for the grand finaly of the cruise - the total solar eclipse! We will fly to Novosibirsk, Siberia for Eclipse Day on August 1.

Please email Elizabeth Lucas at elucas@adlerplanetarium.org with your name and mailing address to receive a full itinerary and registration form.

To view cabin deck information, please click here.

Mysteries of Machu Picchu and the Incan Sky

Adler Travel presents

September 5-17, 2008

The Adler Planetarium is pleased to announce a unique 13-day journey through Peru with Vice President for Collections Marvin Bolt, PhD. Explore the allure of Peru for astronomers, historians and naturalists.

Before reaching the famed ruins of Machu Picchu, travelers will journey back in time from the modern coastal city of Lima to a pre-Incan temple. Journey over the Andean mountains and see the famed Nazca lines from a light-winged aircraft flying over the desert. Look for the vicuñas habitat in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, and marvel at the deepest canyon in the world - and the condors that live there - in Colca Valley and Canyon.

Along the way, travelers will enjoy behind-the-scenes private tours of local planetaria and southern sky stargazing. Finish the journey in the "Lost city of the Incas," Machu Picchu. No one will forget the last morning of the journey, when you witness a breathtaking sunrise over this beautiful and inspiring ancient site!

Visit the Travel page for more information.

The Adler Goes Green

Ten percent of the Adler Planetarium's electrical power is now green. We have signed a three year partnership with Community Energy to supply us with clean, renewable wind energy. Ten percent of our power is roughly equivalent to the electricity we use in both of our theaters.

Where are the wind turbines and how does this work? The wind energy that is generated in our name is placed on the national electrical distribution grid reducing the amount of fuel based energy needed.

To learn more about Community Energy, surf over to www.communityenergy.biz.

Keep thinking green.

Far Out Friday Lecture - 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.

November 7, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Visit the Far Out Friday page on Lecture Series for more information.


		Special Events Lectures, Tours, and More National Astronomy Day 2008 Phoenix Arrives at Mars! Siberian Total Solar Eclipse & Grand Waterways of the Czars Mysteries of Machu Picchu and the Incan Sky The Adler Goes Green Far Out Friday Lecture - Smithsonian Historian Michael J. Neufeld National Astronomy Day 2008 Saturday, May 10 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. It's National Astronomy Day, and there's no better place to celebrate it than at the Adler Planetarium. Enjoy hands-on activities all about the Sun! Activities are free with paid museum admission. No reservations are needed for educational activities. Scheduled activities include the following: Grab free giveaways from Astronomy Magazine! Make a Solar Oven or a Pocket Sundial to take home See Northwestern University's 'Nergy solar car up close, currently on display at the Adler Planetarium Tour the Doane Observatory, home to Chicago's largest publicly accessible telescope (weather permitting) See the Sun safely through our solar telescopes, including in the Doane Observatory (weather permitting) Learn about the solar spectrum in our "Solar Fingerprints" activity Note: The activity schedule is subject to change without prior notice.) Astronomy Day events at the Adler Planetarium are supported by Astronomy Magazine and Meade 4M. On Astronomy Day, don't miss your chance to sign up for the Meade ETX-80TC telescope giveaway or one of three one-year subscriptions to Astronomy Magazine! Entry forms for drawings will be available beginning at 1pm. Drawings will be held at 3:45 pm. Winner need not be present to win. Winner is responsible for telescope shipping costs or picking up the telescope from the Adler Planetarium. Phoenix Arrives at Mars! Sunday, May 25 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. NASA's next major Mars mission arrives at the Red Planet on Memorial Day weekend! The Mars Phoenix spacecraft will land at approximately 6:53 pm CDT on Sunday, May 25, 2008. Phoenix will land at a point that is farther north than any previous Mars mission, giving scientists an up-close glimpse of the Martian tundra for the first time. Come and watch the event on NASA-TV with Adler staff on hand to answer your Mars questions! The event will also feature interactive demonstrations about Mars and the Mars Phoenix mission. The Lower Level exhibits will remain open with free building admission from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. StarRider Theater shows will be available at 4:45 pm and 5:30 pm for $7 per person per show. Adler staff will facilitate the event beginning at 5 pm in the Universe Theater. Admission to the landing event is free; seating is first-come, first served. NASA will broadcast live from Phoenix Mission Control on NASA-TV beginning at 5 pm CDT, with live NASA-TV commentary beginning at 6 pm CDT. Phoenix lands at approximately 6:53 pm CDT. We will await word of the status of the landing. We hope that Mars Phoenix will transmit images prior to the end of this event, but this will be unknown until NASA receives word of the success of the landing. Please check here for more event specifics as the landing day approaches! Note: The activity schedule is subject to change without prior notice. Galileo's Cafe will close at 3:30 pm. The Adler's Upper Level exhibits (Our Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, and Shoot for the Moon) will close at 4:30 pm for a previously scheduled private event. Siberian Total Solar Eclipse & Grand Waterways of the Czars Adler Travel presents July 18-August 2, 2008 Book your reservation now! This tour is nearly sold out! See one of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena - a total solar eclipse! But first, take a river cruise with the Adler through Russia's greatest cities: Moscow and St. Petersberg. Highlights include the Kremlin, Red Square, Europe's second-largest lake, the opulent Winter Palace of the czars, and the Hermitage. On-board astronomy programs will prepare you for the grand finaly of the cruise - the total solar eclipse! We will fly to Novosibirsk, Siberia for Eclipse Day on August 1. Please email Elizabeth Lucas at elucas@adlerplanetarium.org with your name and mailing address to receive a full itinerary and registration form. To view cabin deck information, please click here. Mysteries of Machu Picchu and the Incan Sky Adler Travel presents September 5-17, 2008 The Adler Planetarium is pleased to announce a unique 13-day journey through Peru with Vice President for Collections Marvin Bolt, PhD. Explore the allure of Peru for astronomers, historians and naturalists. Before reaching the famed ruins of Machu Picchu, travelers will journey back in time from the modern coastal city of Lima to a pre-Incan temple. Journey over the Andean mountains and see the famed Nazca lines from a light-winged aircraft flying over the desert. Look for the vicuñas habitat in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, and marvel at the deepest canyon in the world - and the condors that live there - in Colca Valley and Canyon. Along the way, travelers will enjoy behind-the-scenes private tours of local planetaria and southern sky stargazing. Finish the journey in the "Lost city of the Incas," Machu Picchu. No one will forget the last morning of the journey, when you witness a breathtaking sunrise over this beautiful and inspiring ancient site! Visit the Travel page for more information. The Adler Goes Green Ten percent of the Adler Planetarium's electrical power is now green. We have signed a three year partnership with Community Energy to supply us with clean, renewable wind energy. Ten percent of our power is roughly equivalent to the electricity we use in both of our theaters. Where are the wind turbines and how does this work? The wind energy that is generated in our name is placed on the national electrical distribution grid reducing the amount of fuel based energy needed. To learn more about Community Energy, surf over to www.communityenergy.biz. Keep thinking green. Far Out Friday Lecture - 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. November 7, 2008 7:00 p.m. Visit the Far Out Friday page on Lecture Series for more information.