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Astrophotography 101
Image Caption: Camera attached to telescope shooting a comet in the night sky. Image Credit: Nick Lake
Ring lights are out, but Saturn’s rings are in and ready to be photographed. Before setting your eyepiece on Saturn’s rings, let’s get down to the basics of getting started with astrophotography, including all the equipment you may need to get started.
Telescopes alone can be several hundred dollars. Before investing in one, get an overview of different astrophotography setups, including that cellphone in your backpocket.
With these astrophotography tips for beginners, you should feel confident to start taking your own photos of the skies and what lies beyond them.
Astrophotography For Beginners
There are endless setups for astrophotography. If you are new to astrophotography, one of the easiest ways to start feeling more comfortable and confident is to start by using something that most people have on their person 24/7, a smartphone.
As with any new hobby or profession, when it comes to choosing what equipment is right for you, consider how much time, effort, and money you are willing to invest. These are the largest factors in determining the quality of images you will be able to produce.
Astrophotography Using A Cell Phone
Using your cellphone for astrophotography is absolutely possible, but it can be very unpredictable. For photographing the night sky with a smartphone, it is recommended to take longer exposure photos and also switch your phone’s camera to night mode. This allows for the camera to capture more light, allowing your objects in the sky to appear brighter in the final photo.
If you are trying to capture a wide angle photo of the sky, consider purchasing a tripod to stabilize your phone when taking photos. Many smartphone cameras even allow you to adjust settings such as brightness and exposure.
You can broaden your photography potential, and celestial subjects, by purchasing a telescope and an adapter to take photos with your phone. This will give you a much more close-up view of things like the Moon.
Though, it can be tricky to perfectly align the lens of your smartphone camera with the lens of the eyepiece. This is one reason why some astrophotographers prefer adaptable setups for cameras and telescopes.
Cell Phone Astrophotography Equipment & Tips:
- In your phone’s settings, adjust brightness to night mode and long exposure
- Tripod, for phone stabilization
- Telescope and adapter, allowing you to take much more close-up views with your phone
Related blog: What to See When Observing The Night Sky
Astrophotography Using More Advanced Tools
Telescopes can be a large investment, and we recommend getting involved with local astronomy clubs or even checking out your public library to see if there are opportunities for you to use a telescope before making the investment on your own.
Before you click “purchase now,” another smaller investment you can make before making that large purchase is trying out a pair of 10x binoculars or a small spotting scope. You too can be the modern Galileo with a small spotting scope; with it you may be able to see Saturn’s rings or even some star clusters.
Now, we aren’t going to tell you the best telescope or camera for astrophotography. Why? Because it depends on what you are hoping to capture! Regardless of your astrophotography subject, we can give you a few tips that will help you regardless of your celestial subject.
There is a big difference between visual and photographic needs for astrophotography. The same advice for visual observations is typically not the same for astrophotography. Small format refractors are actually really good at capturing nebulae and galaxies for astrophotography because it isn’t important that they gather enough light right away for your eye to see. What’s needed is high-quality glass so that long exposures look as good as possible.
Lots of incredible astrophotography is done with telescopes that are only 2″ in aperture! A larger reflector can work well, but would also require a bigger mount and tripod to support it and overall reflectors are more finicky and require more careful maintenance in comparison to a refractor.
You may be surprised to find that many of the galaxies and nebulae are shockingly huge in the night sky. The Rosette nebula is around 4 full Moons across the sky. You can’t use a long focal length for a lot of these unless you’re planning to just photograph a small area of the object or doing a mosaic.
Afocal imaging can be done using a smartphone and a telescope, capturing images like the Moon. But if you are ready to take the next step into deep space photography, you need a telescope that will act as the lens of your camera. This usually involves a variety of camera adapters, whether you are shooting with a phone or a professional camera. If you don’t want to mess with adapters, there are combination telescope cameras you can purchase, so you don’t run into any issues with correct adapters.
Astrophotography Cameras
Generally, astophotography professionals and hobbyists use a computerized mount, or at the very least a tracking electric mount. Although it is possible to take great photos with just a camera or telephoto lens and a tripod, this can limit the exposure time.
“DSLR cameras are another piece of technology you may already have at home. You may not realize what great results you can get with just a camera and standard lens for astrophotography,” Manager of Theater Experience at the Adler Planetarium, Nick Lake.
For Milky Way images, though, you are able to use a short lens and dslr on a tripod. A solid mount will allow you to take long exposure images without shaking the camera and telescope, helping you create better astronomical images.
The most important consideration, what do you want to photograph? Each telescope, cameras and filters have their own strengths. Depending on what you want to capture you will want a telescope with a short focal length refactor for shooting celestial happenings like a total solar or lunar eclipse. A long focal length refractor will allow you to photograph planets or clusters.
Related blog: Choosing A Telescope
Telescope Astrophotography Equipment & Tips:
- Although you are rarely using an eyepiece for astrophotography, there are some exceptions for solar or lunar photography. In those cases, same as visual astronomy it is recommended to choose your aperture to match the objects you want to capture. We recommend magnification of about 30-40x per inch of aperture.
- Filters may be useful, especially for our Chicago locals that have more light pollution. An UltraHigh Contract or Light Pollution filter will allow you to see more up in the sky, especially for nebulae.
- If you are not using a computerized mount device or technology like Seestar, starcharts may be needed to help you find WHAT you are looking for in the sky and throughout the year you can find it while looking up.
A Peek Into Astrophotography At The Adler Planetarium
If you have tuned into any of our Sky Observer Hangout episodes, you may be familiar with the camera that we use in the Doane Observatory. Instead of putting in an eyepiece with the telescope, we use a camera. For this camera, the light falls onto a chip, and that is converted to an image. The longer the exposure time is, the more light the chip gathers and the brighter our image will be.
We use a computer program called sharpcap to change the exposure time or electronically bump up the brightness of the generated image, which is called gain.
If you are looking to see more visual examples of our astrophotography set up as well as some more in-depth astrophotography tips, you can watch our Astrophotography Sky Observers Hangout episode.
In the video above, you will see our staff talking about and using the Seestar s50 telescope and a camera all in one, showcased in our Astrophotography episode above, is a smart telescope so you can operate this telescope completely from an app on a mobile device. The Seestar captures objects in the night sky, but it can also capture bright objects like the Sun and Moon, though many other telescopes have the same capabilities and features.
When taking research images at the Adler, we do things a little bit differently than our typical setup. Instead of our full-color camera, we use a monochrome camera. This is done to avoid losing any of the science information embedded in the images, and then we use a filter wheel to take images using different color filters.
If you are interested in checking out our telescope in-person, the Doane Observatory is open most Wednesdays, depending on weather. You can join our Facebook group ‘Scopes At The Adler to stay updated on opportunities to observe the daytime or nighttime sky from the Telescope Terrace or through our Doane Observatory telescope on Wednesday nights!
For even more sky observing resources, check out our Sky Observing hub! We even have a free downloadable skywatchers companion guidebook you can use to document and sketch out your observations while looking up.
Share Your Astrophotography With Us
We love knowing you were out there connecting with the sky and observing! Use the hashtag #lookup when posting your celestial views and tag the Adler Planetarium, and you may just get featured on our socials.
Follow the Adler Planetarium on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube or sign up for our emails to get the latest breaking space news, Adler happenings, and event information directly from us!
First Look At Vera C. Rubin Observatory “First Light” Images
Header Image: Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae. Image Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
This week, the Adler Planetarium hosted one of the global watch parties for the new first light imagery coming from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Dozens of institutions worldwide hosted the livestream to celebrate the public release of the first images that will be a part of the largest astronomical movie of all time!
We are excited to continue our collaboration and longstanding support with Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The Rubin Observatory is expected to provide data to answer the question of the existence of Planet Nine, the subject of a prominent sky show created and available for viewing at the Adler.
For the next ten years, the Rubin Observatory will use its Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) camera to take detailed images of the southern hemisphere sky, covering the entire sky every few nights and creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record. This unique movie will bring the night sky to life, yielding a treasure trove of discoveries: asteroids and comets, pulsating stars, and supernova explosions.
What Is First Light?
“First light” is the term used when a new telescope, in this case the Simonyi Survey Telescope, is pointed at the sky to check the performance of the entire system, as the telescope and its instruments are tested to their full potential.
“NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory will capture more information about our Universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director.
A Close Look At The New “First Light” Images
Released for the first-time earlier this week, the stunning sets of first light images, taken over the past few months, show a variety of the types of objects that this telescope will excel at locating and tracking over time, including the following.
1. The Lagoon And Trifid Nebulae
The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae are popular summertime telescope targets. The image highlights Rubin’s unique combination of an extremely wide field of view and its ability to take a large number of big images in a very short time. Combining many individual images reveals subtle details in clouds of gas and dust like these nebulae.
This image was created from 678 exposures taken in only 7.2 hours of observing time, and was composed from about two trillion pixels of data in total. No other observatory is capable of producing such a wide-field image so quickly and with this much depth and detail.
2. The Virgo Cluster Of Galaxies
The Virgo cluster of galaxies is the closest large collection of galaxies to our own Milky Way galaxy. Except for a handful of foreground stars located in our own Milky Way galaxy, the rest of this enormous image is composed of galaxies – about 10 million in all. This is a huge number of galaxies, but it is only 0.05% of the roughly 20 billion galaxies that Rubin will image during its 10-year survey. By the end of the survey, we will see this level of galactic detail across the entire southern sky.
3. Imagery Movie Clips Containing Over 2,000 Previously Unknown Asteroids
In the video above, the Rubin Observatory showcases its unique ability to detect large numbers of small and dim objects orbiting the Sun. These first frames show asteroids in our Solar System in motion against the static background of stars and galaxies in the Virgo Cluster.
Of the almost 4,000 asteroids that are in these initial images, 2,104 of them had never been catalogued before, including 7 near-Earth asteroids, 11 Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit, and 9 objects orbiting out past distant Neptune. And this is only the very start of what is expected to be an incredible haul of previously-unknown asteroids, comets, and more. These images were taken in just 7 nights. Imagine what we’ll find during the next 10 years!
4. 46 Variable Stars
This video showcases 46 subtly pulsating stars detected in this first set of observations. These stars regularly change in brightness, and these brightness changes can tell us a lot about how these stars work. Objects that change in brightness in our Universe are often some of the most interesting to study, and Rubin will excel at finding and tracking variable stars, supernovae, novae, and more.
These new first light images are now among the options for pre-show looks you can see at the Adler before our Skywatch Live shows. See these brand-new images in an immersive full-dome experience, purchase your tickets today.
Next Steps For The Vera C. Rubin Observatory
After further commissioning work, the observatory is expected to begin science operations later in 2025, and annual science data releases will start in 2026. During the LSST program, the Rubin Observatory will operate automatically, with the 27.5 ft telescope capturing images using the largest camera ever built.
Images will be around 40 seconds long, each encompassing an area of sky equivalent to that of 45 Moons. Dedicated computer facilities will process data in real time and issue worldwide alerts, within minutes, of detected changes.
This unique effort is expected to create a treasure trove of discoveries about asteroids and comets, supernova explosions, and more. In addition to increasing our understanding of known objects, one of the most exciting things will be the likely discovery of brand new types of variable objects that we don’t even know about yet!
Get Involved With First Light Data
Want to explore the skies? You, the public, will be able to help astronomers discover unusual objects with this new data through Adler Zooniverse.
The Zooniverse connects research teams with more than 2.7 million volunteer “citizen scientists” all over the world. Together, our volunteers analyze data sets too tricky for computers to parse and too big for any research team to tackle on its own.
Rubin Observatory has partnered with Adler’s Zooniverse to invite the public to take part in real scientific research using Rubin data. Our first Rubin–Zooniverse projects will launch in the coming weeks—stay tuned!
Subscribe to our emails to be the first to know about upcoming Rubin-Zooniverse projects.
Adler Skywatch: July 2025
Header Image: Mercury, as seen by Messenger in 2011. Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
A planet that doesn’t usually get seen much gets its day in the Sun this month, along with a chance to spot Mars, Venus, Saturn, and maybe even Jupiter. Here’s what you can see in the sky this month, July 2025!
Evening Planets In July
Your Chance To See Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. As such, it spends most of its time near the Sun in our sky, which means it either gets completely hidden in the Sun’s glare, or that the window of time when it is above the horizon—either before sunrise or after sunset—is very short.
This month, you have a chance to find the usually-hard-to-spot planet during early-evening twilight from July 1 through about July 8, depending on viewing conditions. Start looking for it about 40 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets, because the twilight sky’s brightness makes it hard to see the planet any earlier. Mercury is a little brighter than first magnitude at this time, but it gets dimmer each evening. The planet is also very low in the west-northwest, so you’ll need a fairly clear view to the horizon to see it.
To help you know if you’ve found Mercury, fully extend your right arm, point your palm down, and stretch your index and pinky-fingers out from your fist to make a Y shape. With your index finger near the object you think is Mercury, your pinky-finger should stretch to the right and end up near Pollux and Castor, the bright “twin-stars” in the constellation Gemini. Mercury sets about 90 minutes after the Sun early in the month, so you don’t have much time to look for Mercury before it’s too close to the horizon to be readily visible.
The Red Planet And Regulus
Mars, AKA the Red Planet, is higher in the early-evening sky than Mercury is this month. Look just a little south of west and about 25 degrees high, starting around 40 minutes to an hour after sunset. If you see both Mars and Mercury in the sky, you’ll notice that Mars is fainter than Mercury. If you see a slightly brighter star below and to the right of Mars, that’s Regulus, in the constellation Leo. Regulus is not as bright as Mercury, but Regulus is brighter than Mars this month.
As the evenings pass, Mars keeps getting dimmer. By month’s end, Mars is only about 1.6 magnitude in brightness. It gets a little dimmer next month before it starts to re-brighten. The evening of July 28, Mars is near a slim, waxing crescent Moon, barely four days old. Mars sets in the west after 11:00 pm at the start of the month, and shortly after 10:00 pm by month’s end.
Late Night And Early Morning Planets
Spot Saturn In July
Long after the evening-twilight planets have set, Saturn rises in the east. On July 1, it rises around 12:30 am. By July 8, it rises just before midnight. By the end of the month, Saturn rises before 11:00 pm. It’s slightly brighter than first-magnitude all month long. Before the glare of sunrise begins to blot it out, Saturn will be roughly 40 degrees high above the south-southeastern horizon. The morning of July 16, a waning gibbous Moon appears just above Saturn.
How To See Venus
The brightest planet, Venus, rises in the east-northeast around 3:00 am this month. It shines at about -4 magnitude and is easy to spot. The morning of July 22, Venus is about five degrees to the right of a slim, waning crescent Moon. You should be able to see Venus up to a half-hour before sunrise each morning this month, as it stays fairly close to the same place in the sky when viewed at the same time each day.
Where Is Jupiter?
The planet Jupiter is always bright, at nearly -2 magnitude. The trouble is that this month, it’s positioned close to the Sun in the sky before sunrise—meaning that the Sun’s glare will make the planet difficult to see. From July 1 through July 13, Jupiter appears less than ten degrees away from the edge of the Sun. But please, don’t try to look for Jupiter while any portion of the Sun’s disk is above the horizon! Looking at the Sun could result in permanent eye damage, which can happen before you even feel anything.
If you do try to look for Jupiter this month, you may want to wait until about 5:00 am on July 23, when the locations of a few other objects will help you find Jupiter easily and quickly. Venus is less than 20 degrees above and to the right of Jupiter with an extremely thin waning crescent Moon is about five degrees to the left of Jupiter. On the mornings after July 23, Jupiter will rise earlier and earlier before the Sun each day, making planet viewing easier and safer.
Moon Phases
First Quarter Moon: July 2
Full Moon: July 10
Last Quarter Moon: July 17
New Moon: July 24
Please note: these descriptions are for the Chicago area, using Central time.
Subscribe To Skywatch Wednesday This July
Tour the sky with the Adler Planetarium’s Theaters Manager, Nick, in Skywatch Wednesday. Nick uses cutting edge visualizations, NASA images, and astrophotography to show you what you can see in the night sky throughout the year.
Check out Nick’s latest episode, learn how to see the summer triangle and the constellations that make it up. Plus, see zodiac constellations, Scorpius and Sagittarius, along with several Moon and planet conjunctions, the Perseid meteor shower, and even the Milky Way this summer!
Learn From Our Astronomy Educators
Watch recaps of Sky Observers Hangout livestreams this July! Learn how to observe upcoming cosmic happenings, enhance your astrophotography skills, and see celestial objects through a telescope virtually with our astronomy educators.
In the latest episode, Michelle and Hunter are joined by astrophotography expert, Nick Lake, and share everything you need to know about taking pictures of the night sky. They also show you views of galaxies through the 24 inch telescope in the Doane Observatory!
Adler Planetarium Announces $1 Million Gift for STEAM Youth Engagement Programs from S&C Electric Company Fund
Header Image: Adler teens gathered in the Planetarium’s Other Worlds exhibition
Chicago’s Adler Planetarium is thrilled to announce ongoing support for its youth engagement programs with a $1 million gift from the S&C Electric Company Fund. An electric grid innovator and long-time resident of the Rogers Park neighborhood, S&C has played a pivotal role in the Adler’s youth engagement programs, serving as a steadfast ally in fostering youth involvement in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) disciplines since its inaugural contribution in 2009.
“The Adler and S&C share a very important goal: to make science accessible and inclusive for Chicago’s youth” said the Adler’s interim President and CEO, Audris Wong. “This gift will help us directly engage young people in exploring the universe, where they’ll make discoveries and solve problems together.”
S&C’s support has enabled the expansion of the Adler’s youth engagement initiatives from a solitary student cohort with a single school partner to a major presence within Chicago’s STEAM youth engagement landscape. Through immersive hands-on experiences in authentic research, engineering projects, leadership development, and career exposure, the Adler’s programs have empowered thousands of young minds across Chicago, nurturing their passion for STEAM and equipping them with essential skills for diverse and rewarding careers.
S&C’s contribution helps expand opportunities for the Adler’s STEAM youth engagement programs:
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The Adler’s summer internships place Chicago teens in professional roles across the museum, learning professional skills in communication and teamwork, as well as gaining experience in space visualization and computer science. Interns work as paid employees in placements with managers across the departments.
FAR HORIZONS TEENS
Far Horizons Teens is a semester-long program through which Chicago high school students carry out cutting-edge research into light pollution and its effects. Participants design and build specialized research equipment, launching these experiments via high-altitude balloons and sharing findings through conference presentations and journal articleswith experts worldwide. This research experience goes hand-in-hand with the cultivation of vital STEAM skills, including coding (in Python and C++), electronics, and physics. Adler teens serve in the roles of designer, researcher, engineer, and leader in each project, gaining
invaluable skills and authentic experience in tackling real-world problems.
YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR LIGHTS OUT [YOLO]
In the Adler’s YOLO program, hands-on STEAM learning and environmental justice collide. Participants learn about light pollution—its impact on human health and its effects on our environment—and engage with their local communities, alderpeople, and other local decision-makers through science and advocacy.
“The S&C Electric Company Fund is deeply committed to providing Chicago’s youth with the access and educational opportunities needed to succeed in STEAM careers,” said Anders Sjoelin, S&C president and CEO. “In that spirit, we are proud to support the Adler Planetarium in inspiring future generations of STEAM leaders and illuminating the opportunities these disciplines offer, both in their classrooms and communities. The students we engage today will be essential in helping transform the electrical grid for a better and brighter tomorrow.”
To learn more about all of the STEAM youth engagement opportunities for teens at the Adler, visit: https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/learn/teens/teen-opportunities/
Need More Space In Your Inbox?
On a cosmic scale, there’s practically no distance between us. We’re all flying through space on the same little blue planet, and we’re all looking up at the same sky.
The Adler Planetarium is not only a building—it is anywhere people gather to spot a constellation, see themselves in the life story of a scientist, or sing a song about black holes. In classrooms and living rooms all over the world, we remind people that they are not so far away from us, from each other, or from the stars.
Sign up for our emails to get the latest breaking space news, Adler happenings, and event information directly from us!
You can also connect with us, with science and astronomy, with our universe—and with other people—exactly where you are! Follow the Adler Planetarium on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube!
Can You Hear Sound In Space?
Header Image: Child using phone in Mission Moon exhibit.
If you have been to a NASCAR event—like the street race coming to Chicago for their third year this July—you know just how loud it can get on the race track! According to Motor Racing Sports, NASCAR Races and NASCAR Engines can reach up to 130 Decibels. If your only experience with car racing is the movie Grease, other ear-piercing noises you may be more familiar with are a rock concert or even nearby fireworks.
Although the NASCAR race decibel level does reach a level that is described as painful, it doesn’t quite reach the eardrum rupture level of a jet take-off.
It’s hard to imagine that a sound so loud on Earth would be non-existent in space. That’s why in this blog we are breaking down the science of sound and explaining why if you plopped a NASCAR race in space you wouldn’t hear a thing.
The Science Of Sound
How does sound work? Sound is a form of energy, often called a sound wave. It’s called a wave, not because it grew up surfing in California, but because the energy of sound is caused by the vibration of matter allowing sound to be transmitted through waves.
In order for sound to be heard you need a source, a receiver, and a medium.
The Source Of Sound
When you speak out loud, your vocal cords vibrate causing tiny air particles to vibrate in your throat, creating a sound wave. A fast vibration will cause waves to be close together and will create a higher pitch, and a slower vibration creates a lower pitch or frequency.
The Medium Of Sound
We aren’t talking about your connection to the spiritual world when we are talking about a medium for sound. A medium for sound is a substance such as a solid, liquid, or gas. Sound is transmitted through waves which travel through different substances or mediums.
We are most familiar with talking about sound traveling through air, as it is often referred to as the standard measure by scientists.
The Receiver Of Sound
You’ve heard the saying, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” A receiver is a critical component to hearing sound. Although many units of measurements fall within human capacity, we can’t rely on just our own human sense of hearing.
As humans, we can only detect sound within a certain range, often between 20-20,000 hertz (Hz). A commonly-known frequency, to give you context to this range, is 440 Hz, the note that orchestras tune to. 440 Hz is also known as the note “A” or standard pitch.
If a sound is powerful enough, you may not even need to hear it. For example, an explosion can typically be heard, however, it can also be felt due to the huge vibrations.
We often talk about sound from a human capacity; species like your family’s dog can detect sounds in a different range of hertz that overlap with humans!
The Speed Of Sound
Before we move on, this blog is about NASCAR, so of course we need to talk about speed. The speed of sound is calculated by measuring the distance that sound travels over a given amount of time.
The best example we can give to understand the speed of sound is the delay that happens when we see a lightning bolt and hear thunder. The delay is caused by the difference in the speed of sound versus the speed of light.
If a meteor starts plummeting down to our little blue dot we call home, as it reaches our atmosphere, it would have a medium to move through, meaning that any sound it makes we would be able to hear.
Can You Hear Sound In Space?
Now that you have the background to the science behind sound, we can answer the initial question, “Can you hear sound in space?” In short, no, you cannot hear any sounds in empty space.
There is no sound in space because there is no air or water, meaning no medium for the sound to move through! With no air or water there is nothing to vibrate. Putting a NASCAR track in space (an unlikely experiment) would not even make a whisper of sound, despite the painfully loud volume on Earth. You wouldn’t even need ear protection to watch this NASCAR experiment in space…just a high-tech spacesuit.
Why? Because space is a vacuum, though not a perfect vacuum, and not the kind that you can buy at the store. That’s more or less to say that space is mostly empty, and vast. Vastly empty and filled with little to no particles to vibrate and create sound.
That’s why here on Earth, we can see stars because light is able to travel through a vacuum. But we cannot hear stars when looking up, because sound needs a medium, though we didn’t ask if they’ve tried calling on the phone. Maybe it would work better for a planet like Saturn because they would be able to see the rings—get it?
Deep Space Sounds
Okay, now let’s get even more scientific.
You may have heard (pun intended) research about the eerie sound of planets and stars, but they aren’t talking about sound in the same way as we do here on Earth. When you hear a scientist talking about listening to stars, they are often referring to electromagnetic radiation or data sonification.
What is data sonification? Data sonification for example takes elements of an image like brightness and position that are assigned pitches and volumes as a way to conceptualize known data in a new way. Gravitational waves are not sound, but are a different sense with which we can explore the cosmos in something other than light. This is a totally independent phenomena than light. Gravitational waves are often sonified because the frequencies of gravitational waves we can detect are similar to the human audible range (~10–2000 Hz), so the data can literally be directly converted into sound and listened to.
There are some instances in which astronomers do study sound waves in space. In empty space, there is no medium, so no sound. However, there are parts of space that are not empty. For example, sound waves can travel through stars, and these sound waves encode themselves in the light that we see from stars. This is a whole area of research called astroseismology.
Get More Space Facts
Need some space in your inbox? Sign up for our emails to get the latest breaking space news, Adler happenings, and be the first to hear about new and limited-seating events directly from us!
You can also connect with us, with science, with our universe—and with other people—exactly where you are! Follow the Adler Planetarium on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube!
Sky Observing 101: Where To Go Stargazing In Chicago
Header Image: A green tent on sand with silhouetted trees and a blue night sky with stars. Image Credit: Nick Lake 2020
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in June 2019 and was updated with more current information.
Interested in observing the night sky but not sure where to start? No worries! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best midwest stargazing and sky observing destinations in or near Chicago. We have even included a few additional quick reference and stargazing resources you can use as your guide to astronomy observing with the naked eyes or even a telescope.
Places To Observe In Chicago
1. The 606 Trail
The western entrance of the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, Chicago, IL is relatively clear of buildings, though not clear of light pollution. The 606 is a 2.7 mile elevated rail trail running east-west on the northwest side of Chicago and is open until 11:00 pm daily.
2. Forest Preserve District Of Cook County’s Palos Preserves
Did you know the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world is in Illinois? Located in Willow Springs, IL, the Palos Preserves stretches 6,662 acres. This area emits far less light than downtown Chicago. The Forest Preserve works to actively preserve and protect the local nighttime environment.
The Adler Planetarium and Adler Teens from our Far Horizons Stratonauts program helped get Palo Preserves this historic designation! The Palos Preserves closes at sunset, however, the area is sometimes open for astronomy events.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County also has several parks that offer overnight camping. Check the FPDCC website for available dates and overnight camping rates. Some locations are closed on certain days of the year or during certain months of the year. All other forest preserve locations generally close at sunset, but it is best to check with individual parks for closing times.
3. Chicago Lakefront
Locations along the shore of Lake Michigan looking east offer slightly darker skies. Recommended locations include:
- Loyola Beach
- Foster Beach
- Montrose Beach
- Rainbow Beach Park
- 12th Street Beach
- Margaret Burroughs Beach and Park
- Oakwood-41st Street Beach
- 57th Street Beach
- 63rd Street Beach
- South Shore Beach
- Calumet Park
4. The Doane Observatory At The Adler Planetarium
Located on the Museum Campus at 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, the Doane Observatory can be found directly behind the Adler Planetarium and open for special events and during most Wednesdays for Adler at Night, depending on weather.
5. ‘Scopes In The City
‘Scopes in the City is an Adler program where astronomy educators and volunteers bring the museum—and the universe—a little closer to Chicagoland residents! Each of these free telescope observing events, hosted at local libraries, parks, and other locations, provides more opportunities for telescope observing at night and during the daytime.
All ’Scopes in the City events are free and weather permitting. You can get updates about upcoming sky observing opportunities by subscribing to our Adler Events email list or by joining the ‘Scopes with the Adler Facebook group.
Places to Observe In The Midwest
For people living in cities like Chicago, we are used to high levels of sky glow and often can’t see more than a handful of stars with the naked eye. That is why we wanted to include a few midwest destinations that can provide an even more magnificent stargazing experience.
1. Illinois State Parks
Illinois State Parks that are a relatively easy drive from Chicago include:
- Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park
- Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
- Kankakee River State Park
- Starved Rock State Park
- Weinberg-King State Park
- Siloam Springs State Park
- Green River State Wildlife Area
Note: Those interested in visiting should check with individual parks to find out if campground sites are only available to those camping overnight.
2. Indiana Dunes State Park
Located less than 50 miles from downtown Chicago, the Indiana Dunes State Park is a great stop for anyone looking to escape the city to see the stars. We recommend checking the Indiana Dunes’ website for rules, regulations, hours, and fees.
3. Wisconsin State Parks
One of our favorite spots is the Richard Bong State Recreation area (open year-round until 11:00 pm). A vehicle admission sticker is required. Overnight camping (for a fee) is available.
4. IDA-Designated Dark Sky Park: Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Did you know Illinois has an International Dark-Sky Association designated Dark Sky Park? Located about two hours south of Chicago, northeast of Champaign, IL, the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is a great location to see a star-filled dark sky. The CCFPD has even more information about where to go, camping options, and more.
Astronomy Sky Observing Groups & Events
1. ‘Scopes At The Adler
Join our ‘Scopes At The Adler Facebook group for all potential upcoming telescope observing opportunities at the Planetarium.
2. Chicago Astronomer
The Chicago Park District conducts regular public observation sessions in parks throughout the city. Search “Chicago Astronomer” on the CPD site for upcoming events.
3. Naperville Astronomical Association
Naperville Astronomical Association hosts periodic free public events at their Astronomy Education Center in Naperville, IL, as well as daytime solar observing along the downtown Naperville Riverwalk.
4.The Calumet Astronomical Society
The Calumet Astronomical Society offers periodic free public events at the Thomas Conway Observatory in Lowell, Indiana, about an hour’s drive southeast of Chicago.
5. Lake County Astronomical Society
The Lake County Astronomical Society offers several observing events each year at public libraries in Lake (Illinois) and McHenry counties.
Astronomy & Stargazing Resources
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Telescope Resources: Looking to find a telescope that’s right for you? Read Choosing A Telescope for helpful information to guide your search!
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Chicagohenge Breakdown: Looking to catch the Chicagohenge phenomenon near each equinox? Read Understanding Chicagohenge to learn why this celestial alignment happens in Chicago and where you can see it.
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Spotting ISS: Looking to spot the ISS traversing across the sky? Read How To Spot the International Space Station before you look up.
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Observing Tips & Tricks: Looking to learn more about what you can see in our night sky? Read Sky Observing 101: What To See for information on eclipses, aurorae, the Moon, upcoming meteor showers, and more.
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Stargazing Books: Looking for stargazing books to read? Read Stargazing Resources: A Few Good Books for a few recommendations.
Learn About Observing With Our Astronomy Educators
Before going on your next out-of-this-world night sky observing adventure, watch episodes of Sky Observers Hangout or Skywatch Wednesday to prepare! Learn how to observe upcoming cosmic happenings, enhance your astrophotography skills and see celestial objects through a telescope virtually with our astronomy educators.
Note: The information listed in this blog is subject to change without prior notice, so check with relevant local authorities regarding any required fees, overnight use, availability, etc. Practice safe sky observing at all times. Beware of any ground obstructions or other hazards in any location. Follow all national, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. Stay off of private property unless you have the property owner’s expressed permission. The Adler Planetarium assumes no responsibility or liability for any injuries or damage sustained during any activities at any of these locations or events.
Adler Skywatch: June 2025
Header Image: Two people stargazing under the summer sky.
The longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere may get 15 hours of daylight, but it’s still only 24 hours long—and it takes place this month, June 2025.
The Summer Solstice
“The longest day” in this case means the most amount of daylight in a single 24-hour day. The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs this month, on June 20 at 9:42pm CDT. On the solstice, the Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky for the year, from Earth’s viewpoint.
Daylight Hours On The Summer Solstice
Since the Sun reaches its highest point, it means that it’s above the horizon for a longer period. How long? This year in the Chicago area, it’s 15 hours and 14 minutes on June 20, with sunrise at 5:15 am and sunset at 8:29 pm.
What Planets Are Visible In June 2025?
Where To Find Jupiter
The first three evenings of the month, the bright planet Jupiter sets in the west-northwest a little over an hour after the Sun. Even though it’s nearly minus-2 magnitude this month, you’ll need a clear view of the horizon to see it. After June 3, it will be very difficult to spot Jupiter in the Sun’s glare. Start looking for it again in the second-half of July, before sunrise in the east-northeast.
A Chance To See Mercury
Possibly the best opportunity of the year to spot the planet Mercury is this month, about 45 minutes after sunset, starting on June 12. There’s a short window of time to look for the planet closest to the Sun. Try looking low in the west-northwest around 9:15 pm. Mercury gets a little higher each evening, and thus easier to see, until June 30.
The evening of June 26, Mercury appears a few degrees to the left of an almost invisible waxing crescent Moon, less than two days old. About the same amount of distance to the right, is the bright star Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini. And about the same distance to the right of Pollux is Castor, the second-brightest star in Gemini. Mercury shines brighter than either Pollux or Castor this month.
How To See Mars This June
If Mercury is too low to spot from your location, try looking a little higher in the early-evening sky for the planet Mars. The evening of June 1, it’s about 30–40 degrees high in the western sky. Look a little to the upper-left of Mars to spot a slender waxing crescent Moon.
Mars gets a little lower in the western sky as the evenings pass. On the evenings of June 15–18, Mars appears one degree or closer to Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Mars and Regulus are nearly the same brightness—about 1.4 magnitude—but you should be able to tell them apart by color. Regulus is a blue-white star, while Mars is slightly red (true to its nickname, the Red Planet).
On the evening of June 29, Mars appears less than a fifth of a degree from the terminator—the line between the dark and light sides—of a waxing crescent Moon. Mars is not quite occulted, or covered, by the Moon, but it’s very close.
Mars sets shortly after 12:30 am at the start of the month, and shortly after 11:00 pm by month’s end.
Early Morning Summer Planets
You’ll need to wait until the pre-dawn darkness to start looking for more planets this month. Saturn is the first one up, rising in the east around 2:30 am at the start of the month, and shortly after midnight by month’s end. Its brightness is at roughly first-magnitude in June. The morning of June 19, a waning crescent Moon appears a few degrees to the left of Saturn. By around 5:00 am, Saturn is roughly 30–40 degrees above the southeastern horizon, and morning twilight likely makes the planet too faint to see.
On clear mornings this month, you’ll have no problem seeing the planet Venus. The brightest planet rises in the east around 3:30 am at the start of the month, and in the east-northeast around 3:00 am by month’s end. It shines brighter than minus-four magnitude and is easy to spot. The morning of June 22, it’s about five degrees to the lower-right of a slim, waning crescent Moon. You should be able to see Venus up to 30 minutes before sunrise each morning this month, as it stays fairly close to the same place in the sky when viewed at the same time each day.
Moon Phases
First Quarter Moon: June 2
Full Moon: June 11
Last Quarter Moon: June 18
New Moon: June 25
Please note: these descriptions are for the Chicago area, using Central time.
Subscribe To Skywatch Wednesday This June
Tour the sky with the Adler Planetarium’s Theaters Manager, Nick, in Skywatch Wednesday. Nick uses cutting edge visualizations, NASA images, and astrophotography to show you what you can see in the night sky throughout the year.
Check out Nick’s latest episode for your guide to spring stargazing and details about last month’s total lunar eclipse!
Learn From Our Astronomy Educators
Watch recaps of Sky Observers Hangout livestreams this June! Learn how to observe upcoming cosmic happenings, enhance your astrophotography skills, and see celestial objects through a telescope virtually with our astronomy educators.
In the latest episode, Michelle and Hunter are joined by astrophotography expert, Nick Lake, and share everything you need to know about taking pictures of the night sky. They also show you views of galaxies through the 24 inch telescope in the Doane Observatory!
How To Get To The Adler Planetarium And Museum Campus During The 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Races
Header Image: The Adler Planetarium on a sunny, summer day, with a line of guests on the museum steps. The planetarium’s iconic dome is seen in front of a vibrant blue sky.
Warm breezes, solar observing opportunities, and the sound of engines revving can only mean one thing: NASCAR Chicago Street Races are here!
If you couldn’t snag tickets for the races, you’re probably still looking for an exciting way to celebrate Independence Day weekend. If so, then you’re in luck, because the Adler Planetarium will be open to the public during the races, on July 5–6, 2025.
Transportation in downtown Chicago might be a little tough while NASCAR takes over some of our streets. The races will only take place over the holiday weekend however, the set up and tear down will take a little longer. Beginning June 19, 2025, many roads will be partially or fully closed to the public, including the roads near the Museum Campus. But fear not, we’re here to help!
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, here is the ultimate guide to navigating to the Museum Campus during the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Races. We’ll explain the best ways for you to get to the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Northerly Island, and Soldier’s Field—whether you’re driving, walking, biking, or taking public transportation.
Check out the museum’s hours during race week here. (Yes, we’re open on July 4!)
How To Get To The Adler During NASCAR 2025
Public Transportation
Chicago has one of the best public transportation systems in the country. It is a simple, safe, and convenient way to get around the city. Especially during NASCAR, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will be the best way to get to the Adler Planetarium.
Roosevelt Station is the closest “L” stop to the Museum Campus (if you’re not from Chicago, the “L” is our affectionate nickname for our train system). Roosevelt Station—located on Roosevelt and State— is a convenient hub for the Red, Orange, and Green train lines. So regardless if you’re coming from the north, south, west, or southwest, Roosevelt will be your stop!
After getting off at Roosevelt, hop on the #146 shuttle that will run from Roosevelt Station to the Museum Campus during the #146’s normal hours, using an alternate route (pictured below). Exit the bus at the Adler Planetarium, and voila! Enjoy your space adventure.
For live updates on where your train or bus is, check out the CTA schedule here.
From Ogilvie Transportation Center and Chicago Union Station
If you’re visiting the museum from outside of the city, the Metra Metropolitan Rail is a great way to get to the city without a car!
If you arrive in Chicago at Ogilvie Transportation Center, walk east on Madison and take the Brown line at Washington/Wells towards Kimball.
If you arrive in Chicago at Union Station, walk east on Adams and take the Brown line at Quincy towards Kimball.
- Exit the Brown line at Harold Washington Library-State
- Walk one block east to State and Van Buren, take the southbound #146
- Exit at Solidarity Drive and Planetarium
Note: The #146 buses will terminate at Roosevelt Station during the races. The CTA will operate a #146 shuttle bus between Roosevelt Station and Museum Campus during regular #146 hours of service.
Walking/Biking
For those who are venturing on foot or bicycle, the Lakefront Trail will be open and is certainly the most scenic route to the planetarium. If you’re coming from the north or south, this is the route you’ll want to take.
Alternatively, if you’re coming from the west, take a trek through Arvey Field, entering from Columbus, just north of Roosevelt Road. Stroll east through the park and Museum Campus, and you’ll see our iconic copper dome on the horizon!
If you’re looking for a bike share, there are Divvy stations all over Chicago, including one right outside the Adler Planetarium! Find Divvy bike stations in Chicago here.
Water Taxi
Feeling adventurous? Taking a water taxi may be the most exciting—and traffic-free—route to the Adler Planetarium. Shoreline Sightseeing offers a scenic boat ride from Navy Pier to the Museum Campus, stopping at the iconic Buckingham Fountain along the way!
Taking a water taxi to the planetarium is great for tourists who want to get a taste of Lake Michigan, as well as locals who are looking for a fun way to see our beautiful city! Once exiting the boat, the Adler Planetarium is just a short walk away. Learn more about taking a water taxi to the Museum Campus here.
Driving
Driving, though a convenient and private form of transportation, will likely be the most difficult route to the Adler during the NASCAR races. Many of the roads surrounding Museum Campus will be used in the race. However, if you prefer driving, there are still options!
- If you’re driving from the north
- Hop on I-90 E/ 94 E. I-90 brings you into downtown Chicago from the northwest suburbs, while I-94 brings you in from the northern suburbs of Chicago.
- Take exit 53 to US-41 N/S DuSable Lake Shore Drive/ US Highway 41 N
- Take the US-41/ N DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit from the I-55/Stevenson Expressway
- Continue north on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Exit at 18th Street
- Continue onto Special Olympics Drive
- Turn right on Solidarity Drive and continue east to arrive at the Adler Planetarium
- If you’re driving from the from the south
- Route B: Take I-90 or I-94. I-90 follows more closely along the lakefront of Lake Michigan, while I-94 brings you into Chicago from a little further south. The two converge around 66th Street, so if you’re coming from north of 66th, don’t worry about which to take.
- Head toward 22nd Street
- At Exit 53C, head on the ramp for I-55 North toward DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Continue north on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Exit at 18th Street
- Route C: If it’s easier to access DuSable Lake Shore Drive rather than I-90/I-94, you can take it northbound instead.
- Exit at 31st Street, then proceed north on Fort Dearborn to 18th Street
- For both Route B and C: After exiting at 18th Street, continue onto Special Olympics Drive
- Turn right on Solidarity Drive and continue east to arrive at the Adler Planetarium
- If you’re driving from the from the west
- Use Eisenhower Expressway I-290 E towards S Wells Street
- Take the ramp for I-90/ I-94 E towards Indiana
- Take Exit 53 to US-41 N/S DuSable Lake Shore Drive/ US Highway 41 N to get onto I-55 N/ Stevenson Expressway
- Take the US-41 N/S DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit
- Continue on US- 41 N/ DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Exit at 18th Street
- Continue onto Special Olympics Drive
- Turn right on Solidarity Drive and continue east to arrive at the Adler Planetarium
If you do plan on driving, please note that parking on Museum Campus may be limited. The Adler Planetarium does not own the parking lot near the museum.
Regardless of how you choose to travel to the Planetarium, remember that tickets must be purchased in advance of your visit.
During your visit, be sure to catch these 10 things you won’t want to miss at the Adler Planetarium—And don’t forget to take a look at our sky show offerings!
We can’t wait to explore the universe with you!
10 Things At The Adler Planetarium You Don’t Want To Miss
Header Image: Adler Planetarium December 2021.
Editor’s Note: Updated to reflect more current and updated exhibit information.
As the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere (and one of the historic Chicago attractions located on the city’s Museum Campus) we’ve got some pretty stellar exhibits you don’t want to miss during your visit!
For a list of fun things to do in Chicago, read on to check these experiences off your Chicago attraction bucket list. You’ll even learn some behind-the-scenes tidbits along the way.
#1: Our Dome Theater Sky Shows
One of the coolest things about the Adler Planetarium is that we have not one, but two dome theaters!
Fun fact: we were also the first planetarium in Chicago to open a dome theater back in the day.
When you step inside a planetarium dome theater and take a seat, you become immersed in spectacular space visualizations that transport you across time and space.
What’s Currently Playing a the Adler:
- Niyah And The Multiverse: Join young Niyah, her grown-up self, and her friends on an Afrofuturist journey through multiverse theory! Learn about shadow matter, bubble universes, many worlds, and the connections between science and culture.
- Cosmic Rhythms: Featuring Adler astronomer’s expertise, breathtaking imagery, and bold choreography by Joffrey Ballet dancer Xavier Nuñez, Cosmic Rhythms takes audiences on a mesmerizing journey through the cosmos.
- Destination Solar System: It’s 2096, and you’ve just signed up for a trip around the solar system with Space Express Tours! Get ready to tour the hottest hot spots, and most spectacular sights in deep space—fun for space explorers of all ages.
- Imagine The Moon: Explore how the Moon—our partner in space and companion in our sky—has inspired human creativity, learning, and exploration ever since looking up.
- Planet Nine: Meet Planet Nine—the theorized ninth planet lurking at the edge of our solar system. You’ll follow a team of intrepid explorers as they unlock secrets about how our solar system formed—and what it may be hiding.
- Skywatch Live: See Chicago’s magnificent night sky simulated without light pollution. Our live presenters will show you constellations, stars, the Moon, and more as seen above the city on the day of your visit—perfect for stargazing enthusiasts!
- One World, One Sky: Blast off in an imaginary rocket with Big Bird and Elmo on an unforgettable journey to the Sun, Moon, and the Big Dipper!
Purchase tickets for your next space adventure and sky shows here.
#2: Our Newest Exhibit, Other Worlds
If you’ve ever looked up at our shared night sky and wondered about the worlds that lie beyond our own, you’re not alone. Planets can be hot or cold, rocky or gassy, enormous or teeny-tiny. Exoplanets—planets that orbit other stars—are even more diverse than the worlds of our solar system. With recent advancements in technology over the last several decades, scientists have been able to explore further than ever before, so we learn more about these planets each and every day.
While exploring Other Worlds at the Adler Planetarium, you’ll experience how diverse these planets truly are. More importantly, you’ll learn how studying planets in our solar system and discovering exoplanets both help us better understand our Earth and how other worlds came to be.
#3: Say Cheese and Take A Selfie
There are eight different Selfie Spots around the museum—can you find them all?
Throughout the museum you can find stickers labeled “Selfie Spots.” Take a selfie with our inflatable Moon near the Cosmic Cafe, on a light pollution map of Chicago in Chicago’s Night Sky or with the JWST mirrors in Stargazers Hub. When exploring Other Worlds, there are a couple of awesome selfie spots where you can take pictures with large models of Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, or Uranus hanging from the ceiling, a climbable gas giant ringed exoplanet, and a real meteorite from the Arizona desert.
#4 Astronomical Objects Everywhere
The Adler has the best and most comprehensive sundial collection in all of North America, but we also have a ton of other collections objects too! You can learn about different cultures through these objects like astrolabes and celestial globes on display.
We’ve also got a lot of space artwork featured throughout the museum. In Chicago’s Night Sky there is a stellar piece of artwork by Frederick J. Brown titled, “Milky Way.” This work of art weighs in at about 375lbs. To secure it to the wall we used a series of special hooks and five staff members to lift it up!
#5: The Doane Observatory
Did you know the Doane Observatory is home to the largest publicly accessible telescope in Chicago? Since opening in 1977, the observatory in Chicago has had several telescopes within its walls, and these telescopes have given Chicagoans the opportunity to look up at the Sun, the Moon, stars, nebulae and planets despite light pollution’s interference in the city.
The Doane is open (weather permitting) on Wednesdays during Adler at Nights throughout the year. To know when the Doane will be open, join our Facebook Group or check our Doane Observatory page the week of your visit. You can also check in at the box office on the evening of your visit to inquire about the availability of the Observatory.
#6: The Telescope Terrace
When skies are clear and the weather is nice, our public observing educators and telescope volunteers will be out on the terrace with small ‘scopes for daytime observing fun.
The telescope terrace is located to the right of the Accessible Entrance of the Adler Planetarium!
#7: An Out-Of-This-World Stomp Rocket
Located in our Mission Moon exhibit, there is an interactive stomp rocket where you can build your own foam rocket and try to send it up as high as you possibly can through the atmosphere (aka a very large tube)!
Learn how you can make your own stomp rocket at home.
#8: Architectural Secrets
In 1930—the year the Adler Planetarium opened—Italian-American sculptor Alfonso Iannelli built and installed a dedication plaque in what is known as our Rainbow Lobby. To get into the museum, you walk up the front steps and pass through this lobby! Why is it called the Rainbow Lobby you ask? Around sunset every single day, the Sun’s rays pass through our glass angled prism-like front doors causing the light to bend and the colors in the Sun’s light to spread out, creating lots of tiny rainbows!
Fun fact: the Rainbow Lobby’s dedication plaque is not the only sculpture around the building created by Alfonso Iannelli. Outside and inside the Planetarium are 12 zodiac constellation plaques that match the Rainbow Lobby’s plaques that depict the planets.
#9: Spaces For Collaboration, Curiosity, and Experimentation
Around the planetarium are several Community Design Labs that are flexible spaces for guests to learn through play, test ideas, create art, and reflect.
- Located in the Telescopes: Through The Looking Glass exhibit, the brand new Community Stargazers Hub offers a multiversity journey through time with a focus on historic objects and is great for all ages.
- The Community PlayLab is located in the Planet Explorers exhibit and is great for children six and under and their families.
- The Community Star Studio is located in the Chicago’s Night Sky exhibit and is great for all ages!
Most of these spaces are open 10:00 am–2:00 pm, every day except Mondays and Wednesdays pending staff availability, however, Stargazers Hub is always open during our public open hours.
#10: City Views
There’s lots to look at on the inside at the Adler, but what about the outside? We’ve been located on Chicago’s lakeshore for almost 93 years, and the views of the city are unbelievable!
Fun fact: there is a huge sundial out in front of the Adler. Have you seen it before?
Choose Your Space Adventure—Get Tickets
Tickets for your next space adventure are on sale now!
NASCAR Returns As A Sponsor Of Adler At Night This Summer
Header Image: Stock cars set up in downtown Chicago in 2023. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times.
Back for its third year in Chicago, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race is reaffirming its commitment to STEAM and the Adler Planetarium with a four-month sponsorship of Adler at Night—the Adler’s weekly evening event. During Adler at Night every Wednesday evening from 4:00 pm–10:00 pm, Illinois residents receive free general admission (with valid ID).
NASCAR Chicago Street Race, which will return to Grant Park July 5-6, 2025, will be sponsoring Adler at Night from April through July, helping the Adler continue to provide all Illinois residents the opportunity to visit free of charge.
The Adler’s Doane Observatory, housing the largest publicly-accessible telescope in the Chicagoland area, is also open for celestial viewing opportunities when weather permits.
Every Wednesday evening telescope activities are free and open to the public with or without purchase of an admission ticket. Join us after work, after school, or for date night at the Adler Planetarium.
“Our ongoing partnership with Adler Planetarium is a continuation of our commitment to positively impact the Chicago community on a year-round basis,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “Adler at Night is a beloved program designed to provide local Illinois residents with access to a world-class cultural experience in their own back yard—a mission that NASCAR is proud to support.”
All tickets for Adler at Night must be reserved in advance of your visit. All sales are final.
Need More Space In Your Inbox?
On a cosmic scale, there’s practically no distance between us. We’re all flying through space on the same little blue planet, and we’re all looking up at the same sky.
The Adler Planetarium is not only a building—it is anywhere people gather to spot a constellation, see themselves in the life story of a scientist, or sing a song about black holes. In classrooms and living rooms all over the world, we remind people that they are not so far away from us, from each other, or from the stars.
Sign up for our emails to get the latest breaking space news, Adler happenings, and event information directly from us!
You can also connect with us, with science and astronomy, with our universe—and with other people—exactly where you are! Follow the Adler Planetarium on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube!
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1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
Open Today From 9am – 4pm
*Last admission one hour before close.*
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