See our famous (and award-winning) sky shows under our iconic dome theater.

Beautiful. Mysterious. Cosmic. Our sky shows give you a front row seat to observe our universe, like you never have before.

Purchase tickets for your next space adventure and sky shows here. All tickets must be bought online, in advance of your visit. All sales are final.

Now Playing

In July 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft gave us our first close look at Pluto, the most famous dwarf planet in the outskirts of our solar system.

The New Horizons flyby was big news, and the pictures it continues to send back to Earth reveal a world far more complex than anyone realized. Using nothing but their wits (and high-powered telescopes and a thorough understanding of orbital mechanics), these intrepid explorers are making new discoveries about how our Solar System formed—and what it may be hiding.

Follow Mike Brown and his team at CalTech as they uncover dwarf worlds like the remarkably bright Eris; Haumea, an egg-shaped object rotating incredibly fast; and Sedna, whose orbit takes it deep into the far reaches of the Solar System. Is there a new planet beyond these distant objects? We’ll tag along on Mike Brown’s first night searching for the ninth planet at the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii.

Run Time: approximately 30 minutes

The year is 2096. Space tourism is booming, and you’ve signed up for a quick trip around the solar system with Space Express Tours!

Space Express Tours⁠—the first tour company in deep space⁠—offers a variety of adventures including its most popular trip, Destination Solar System. This out-of-this world jaunt takes place on board the fastest ship in the Space Express fleet and is the only vehicle equipped with Space Jump™ technology.

In Destination Solar System, passengers will travel hundreds of millions of miles in just seconds on an adventure-filled tour led by Jesse, an enthusiastic, knowledgeable—but inexperienced—tour guide, and Max, a highly advanced, fully-integrated onboard computer. Tours of the hottest hot spots and the coldest, stormiest and most spectacular sights in the solar system await curious space explorers of all ages.

Run Time: approximately 30 minutes

The Moon has been a source of wonder for all of human history.

Adler’s newest sky show, Imagine the Moon, explores how the Moon has inspired human creativity, learning, and exploration ever since we have looked to the sky.

Each discovery has brought new opportunities to contemplate and imagine, until, driven by dreams, we left Earth and went there in the amazing journeys that culminated in astronauts walking on the Moon. People have imagined the Moon as a glowing disk in the sky, a destination in space, and a world that shares its origin with the Earth. The power of human imagination continues to inspire our relationship with the Moon as our partner in space and companion in our sky.

Run Time: approximately 30 minutes

The Adler’s view of downtown Chicago is magnificent, but the lights of the city make it a little tough to see the ones in the sky. What’s a stargazer to do? Join us for Skywatch Live!

In this show, your live presenter will turn down the city lights and crank up the stars to show you the night sky over Chicago like you’ve never seen it before. You’ll learn how to navigate by starlight, get to know the stars behind your favorite constellations, and witness the incomprehensible vastness of the universe without ever leaving your seat.

Our view of the real sky shifts each day as Earth makes its way around the Sun, and so does the model sky in Skywatch Live! Every day, the show matches the view of the sky directly over Chicago on that day, so you’ll get a new perspective on the universe every time you return.

Run Time: approximately 30 minutes

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the best selling albums of all time with an immersive space and musical experience like you’ve never seen before.

On February 27, 1973, EMI Records held a press conference for the debut of Pink Floyd’s new album, ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ at the London Planetarium. Although the Planetarium dome could only show an array of stars, constellations, and images of the cosmos while the music played, it was an unprecedented success. Fifty years later, in recognition of the iconic album (and with the help of huge strides in technology), an official fulldome experience with stunning visuals of the solar system and beyond is now being shown at the Adler Planetarium.

“The show itself will be divided between the 10 tracks off the album, in chronological order, each having a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a Planetarium can offer.” It promises to be immersive; an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.”

Run Time: approximately 45 minutes

Join Big Bird and Elmo on an unforgettable journey to the Moon and back!

When Elmo’s friend Hu Hu Zhu stops by Sesame Street for a visit, he notices that Sesame Street is a little bit different from his home in China. But when he looks up at the sky, he feels right at home. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu may live in different cities, but they share the same sky!

With a little help from Big Bird, the two friends learn about the Sun, the Moon, and the Big Dipper, then blast off in an imaginary rocket to the Moon! Along the way, they invite the audience to sing along to songs about space and celebrate the sky that belongs to everyone.

Run Time: approximately 30 minutes