Category: Astronomy 101
Everything You Need To Know About The April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Here’s everything you need to know about the April 8, 2024, partial solar eclipse or annular solar eclipse (depending on your location).
The Top Three Multiverse Theories: Many Worlds, Bubble Universes, And Shadow Matter
What is multiverse theory? Dive deeper into the multiverse theories explored in the Adler Planetarium’s sky show, Niyah and the Multiverse—many worlds, bubble universes, and shadow matter theories.
Everything You Need To Know About The October 2023 Partial Solar Eclipse
Here’s everything you need to know about the October 14, 2023, partial solar eclipse or annular solar eclipse (depending on your location).
Different Types Of Solar Eclipses Explained
What is the difference between a total solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, and a partial solar eclipse? We discuss the different types of solar eclipses, what a solar eclipse is, and how to see the October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024 eclipses!
Does Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Have A Hyperbolic Orbit or a 50,000 Year Orbit?
Header Image: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) showing its green glow and three blue ion tails. Image Credit: Jose Francisco Hernández Everyone is talking about the “Green Comet”—aka Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)—right now! This cosmic fuzzball recently made its closest approach to the Sun, and has the potential to be bright enough to be seen from […]
What Would The Planet Jupiter Taste Like?
Header Image: Color enhanced image of Jupiter’s southern hemisphere, taken on February 12, 2019 by NASA’s Juno spacecraft. Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill Written by Dr. Geza Gyuk and Bella Mutert Have you ever found yourself wondering, “what would Jupiter taste like?” No? Just us? Well…regardless of your planetary palate ponderings, Dr. Geza Gyuk—the Director […]
Universe-Sized Questions: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Big Bang
Header Image: This is NGC 1365, the barred spiral galaxy a part of the Fornax Cluster. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC Dark matter. What is it? Why can’t we see it? And how is it related to dark energy and the Big Bang? Every day, we (the astronomers at the Adler Planetarium) get asked curious questions about […]
Astronomy and Space Facts From A to Z
Header Image: The outside of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL at sunset in the fall. When you were a kid, you probably learned your ABC’s using stuff like, “A is for…apple” or “B is for…bee” or “C is for…cat” to represent each letter. While those options are all fine and good and cute, what if […]
Why The Adler Planetarium Will Only Ever Use The Initials JWST When Referencing The Most Powerful Space Telescope Ever Created
Header Image: The JWST is being lifted into a clean room at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center before it was launched in December 2021. Image Credit: NASA/Desiree Stover In July 2022, the first images from the JWST captivated people all over the world, including here at the Adler Planetarium. This massive, collaborative effort to explore […]
JWST: The Most Powerful Infrared Space Telescope Humans Have Ever Created
Header Image: The Cosmic Cliffs in NGC 3324, also known as the Carina Nebula. This image was taken by the JWST and shows cosmic dust and gas a part of the nebula, but also previously obscured star nurseries and stars that we can now see with the space telescope’s infrared light. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, […]