Spring Break Activities at the Adler
As humanity prepares to return to the Moon, join the Adler Planetarium this Spring Break as we explore the Moon as both icon and enigma.
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To The Moon
From Apollo to Artemis, We’re Going Back.
Join the mission and journey to the best spring break destination, the Moon.
Find new immersive dome theater shows like Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon, guided tours, hands-on activities, and more! Discover how science, culture, and curiosity about the Moon (and beyond!) collide, here, at the Adler Planetarium.
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Special Events
NASA Artemis Panel
When: Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 pm–8:00 pm | Theater doors open at 6:30 pm
Where: Johnson Family Star Theater at the Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium is thrilled to host and welcome home Illinois native and one of the leaders of NASA Artemis mission’s Orion Spacecraft for a once-in-a-lifetime discussion panel. Join us in learning more about the mission, the role they’ll play in the launch, and what lies ahead in the future for space exploration!
Your event reservation ticket includes Museum Entry with access to all exhibitions.
Moon Observing
When: Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 pm–10:00 pm & Wednesday, April 1, 7:45 pm–10:00 pm*
Where: Doane Observatory, behind the Adler Planetarium
Take a look through the largest publicly-accessible telescope in Chicago or one of our many small scopes! The observatory is open to the public for free, no tickets or reservations necessary.
Want to visit the museum while you’re here? Purchase tickets for your visit!
*Weather permitting
Daily Moon Activities
Dome Show: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon
Journey through space and time with one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most iconic albums: Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side Of The Moon.”
Made in collaboration with Pink Floyd, this immersive dome theater show pairs cutting-edge space visualizations with the 10-track album that changed music forever. The Dark Side Of The Moon is an experience that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.
Lunar pre-shows will run from March 23–April 6. You must purchase a Museum Entry +1 or +2 ticket to see a show as part of your visit.
Dome Show: Imagine The Moon
The Moon has been a source of wonder for all of human history. Each discovery has brought new opportunities to contemplate and imagine, leading up to astronauts walking on the Moon.
Explore how the Moon—our partner in space and companion in our sky—has inspired human creativity, learning, and exploration. Arrive early for a pre-show giving you a closer look at the Moon.
Don’t forget to arrive early for a pre-show giving you a closer look at our Moon.
Lunar pre-shows will run from March 23–April 6. You must purchase a Museum Entry +1 or +2 ticket to see a show as part of your visit.
Guided Tours In Mission Moon
We’re going back to the Moon. For this exclusive experience, journey through the life and career of astronaut Jim Lovell in Mission Moon, reflecting the human side of space exploration and experimentation during special guided 40-minute expert-led tours every weekday starting March 23.
See a real space capsule, Moon rock, and other authentic artifacts. As new initiatives aim to return humans to the Moon, this tour grounds today’s ambitions in the people and problem-solving that shaped the first era of lunar exploration.
This experience is included with museum entry on weekdays between March 23–April 6; no additional purchase is required.
Dome Show: Skywatch Live!
See Chicago’s magnificent night sky—constellations, stars, the Moon, and more as seen above the city on the day of your visit—without light pollution.
Our live presenters will turn down the city lights and crank up the stars to show you the night sky over Chicago as you’ve never seen it before. During spring break, presenters will pay extra close attention the Moon, and more specifically, the next upcoming Full Moon.
Lunar pre-shows will run from March 23–April 6. You must purchase a Museum Entry +1 or +2 ticket to see a show as part of your visit.
Mobile Moon Activities
Find mobile demonstration stations on the Upper Level in Other Worlds or Mission Moon.
The Vacuum of Space
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 1:00 pm–3:30 pm, Wednesday 4:00 pm–8:00 pm, and Monday 9:30 am–11:30 am
What would happen to a marshmallow on the Moon? Observe vacuum chamber experiments, and consider what those conditions mean for exploring and working on the Moon!
Spacecraft Design Challenge
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:30 am-12:30 pm and Wednesday 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
Design, build, and test your own spacecraft. Inspired by NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon, explore how engineering design choices affect your mission’s success!
These experiences are included with museum entry from March 23–April 5; no additional purchase is required.
Lunar Activities in Community Discovery Labs
Explore the surface of the Moon through observation and making. Facilitated by Adler educators, explore our Star Studio to create Lunar Surface Collages or try your hand at crafting your very own Moon Model in the Community PlayLab.
Seek out the Cabinet of Curiosities in Stargazers Hub for a closer look at the Moon with objects from our teaching collection, including meteorites from the Moon, a moon globe, and early telescopic drawings compared to modern lunar imagery.
- Lunar Surface Collage in Star Studio: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:30 am–3:30 pm, Wednesday 4:00 pm–8:00 pm, and Monday 12:00 pm–3:00 pm
- Moon Modeling in PlayLab: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:30 am–12:30 pm and Wednesday 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
- The Moon Rocks in Stargazers Hub: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 am–12:00 pm, and Wednesday 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Find a variety of lunar activities during museum hours in our Community Design Lab spaces.
These experiences are included with museum entry from March 23–April 5; no additional purchase is required.
Pop-Up Talks with Astrophysicists
When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, and Wednesday at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm from March 23–March 24 and March 26–April 6*
Where: Other Worlds (by the Rover Model)
Adler astrophysicists will be giving 10-minute talks on topics related to the Moon and lunar exploration, and topics such as lunar formation theories, tides, and other interesting Solar System moons. followed by a Q&A.
*This experience is included with museum entry from March 23–March 24 and March 26–April 6; no additional purchase is required.
Astronomy Conversations
When: Wednesdays 6:00 pm–8:00 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Where: Space Visualization Lab, located on the Lower Level
Adler experts and visiting scientists are talking about cutting-edge astronomy research and answering your astronomy questions—with YOU leading the discussion.
This experience is included with museum entry; no additional purchase is required.
Museum Entry +2
Explore all we have to offer with full museum access and your choice of two dome theater shows.
Includes entry to the museum with access to all exhibitions and experiences PLUS your choice of two sky shows.
Museum Entry +1
The sky is the limit with full museum access and your choice of one dome theater show.
Includes entry to the museum with access to all exhibitions and experiences PLUS your choice of one sky show.
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Museum entry does not include parking or dome theater sky shows (unless otherwise noted).
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