Your guide to the best stargazing spots in Chicago and across the midwest.

What’s in the sky in June, 2025? Learn about the summer solstice and how to see the planets Venus, Saturn, Mercury, and Mars, this month.

What’s in the sky in May, 2025? How to see the planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, along with the Eta Aquariid meteor shower this month.

What’s in the sky in April 2025? Your last chance to see wintertime stars, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Procyon, plus how to see the planets, the summer triangle, and the Lyrid meteor shower.

Learn how to identify planets in the night sky with your naked eye. Wow your friends with your knowledge of visible planets in the night sky.

Header Image: Adler Teen Stratonaut Duncan A. Yuen presenting the team’s findings about light pollution from the trip to Little Red Schoolhouse at an Adler Planetarium event. Seeing a night sky—specifically one that is not affected by light pollution—can be life-changing! If you live in Chicago or a large city with lots of lights, those […]

Header Image: Adler Teen Alum Grace Crim is seen here working with other team members who were part of the Adler Teens Stratonauts program. Seeing a night sky—specifically one that is not affected by light pollution—can be life-changing! If you live in Chicago or a large city with lots of lights, those lights will drown […]

Header Image: Looking through a telescope at the Adler Planetarium. Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in August 2020 and was updated in August 2024 with more current information. One question we often get at the Adler is: “I’m a beginner. What’s the best telescope for me?”  The really short answer is, “The best […]

Header Image: The original image of galaxies NGC 6285 (left) and NGC 6286 (right) was taken by NASA Hubble. Image Edit: Adler Planetarium We all know that social distancing is a good way to avoid catching (or spreading) a virus, but what if the stakes were even higher? What if standing too close to someone […]

Arguably, one of the most well-known fixtures of our night sky is the Big Dipper. But did you know that this night-sky staple once served as a beacon to freedom here in America during the time of the Underground Railroad? In the early-to-mid 19th century, countless American slaves used the Big Dipper⁠—aka the Drinking Gourd⁠—as […]