Space Visualization Lab

Talk to astronomers about cutting-edge research and experience awe-inspiring visualizations!

In this working laboratory, scientists, technology experts, artists, and educators work together to create new ways for people to virtually explore the universe. Since its inauguration in 2007, the Space Visualization Lab has brought cutting-edge research from scientists in the most prominent institutions around the country, as well as immersive and interactive technologies to the museum floor. In the Space Visualization Lab, visitors can experience new interactive and immersive visualizations and attend presentations by astronomers and related researchers featuring these visualizations.

Astronomy Conversations

As the featured program inside the Space Visualization Lab (SVL), Astronomy Conversations hosts Adler researchers and visiting scientists to engage museum guests about their research, complemented by SVL visuals, but lets the museum guests steer the conversation towards any astronomical topic they are interested in.

Having practicing scientists interact with museum guests in this space helps to disseminate cutting-edge astronomical research while adding a crucial human element to scientific research and making space science more accessible.

Hours (Museum Guests): Wednesdays 6:00 pm–8:00 pm, and Saturdays 11:00 am–3:00 pm
Hours (School Groups Only): Thursdays 11:00 am–12:00 pm
Location: Located on the Lower Level in between the entrances to the Community Stargazers Hub, and Telescopes: Through The Looking Glass exhibitions
Perfect for museum guests of all ages

Upcoming 2025 Adler Researchers And Visiting Scientists

Thursday, May 15, 2025 (11:00 am–12:00 pm)
Dr. Geza Gyuk (Adler Planetarium): High-energy Astrophysics, Asteroids, Light Pollution, General Astronomy
Dr. Michael Zevin (Adler Planetarium): Gravitational Waves, Compact Objects, Stellar Evolution, General Astronomy

Saturday, May 17, 2025 (11:00 am–1:00 pm)
Pavani Jairam (Northwestern University): High Energy Astrophysics
Dr. Alexander Ji (University of Chicago): Near-field Cosmology, Dwaft Galaxies, Supernovae

Saturday, May 17, 2025 (1:00 pm–3:00 pm)
Kierstin Sorensen (Northwestern University): Gravitational Waves, White Dwarfs, LISA

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (6:00 pm–8:00 pm)
Andrew Marszewski (Northwestern University): Extragalactic Astrophysics
Imran Sultan (Northwestern University): Galaxy Formation, Cosmology

Thursday, May 22, 2025 (11:00 am–12:00 pm)
Adler Planetarium Collections team, featuring Dr. Katie Boyce-Jacino (Adler Planetarium): History of Astronomy and Planetariums

Saturday, May 24, 2025 (11:00 am–1:00 pm)
Xuan Ji (University of Chicago): Exoplanets, Planetary Climate, Habitability
Hailin Wang (Northwestern University): Stars, Interstellar Medium, Magnetic Fields

Saturday, May 24, 2025 (1:00 pm–3:00 pm)
Yiqing Guo (Northwestern University): Gravitational Waves Sources, Globular Clusters
Dr. Goni Halevi (Illinois Institute of Technology): Compact Objects, Supernovae, Nucleosynthesis

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (6:00 pm–8:00 pm)
Dr. Sylvia Biscoveanu (Northwestern University): Gravitational-wave Astronomy
Dr. Erin Healy (University of Chicago): Experimental Cosmology, Cosmic Microwave Background

Thursday, May 29, 2025 (11:00 am–12:00 pm)
Dr. Giacomo Terreran (Adler Planetarium): Supernovae, Light Pollution
Dr. Michael Zevin (Adler Planetarium): Gravitational Waves, Compact Objects, Stellar Evolution, General Astronomy

Saturday, May 31, 2025 (11:00 am–1:00 pm)
Dr. Cosmin Deaconu (University of Chicago): Particle Astrophysics
Alex Hanselman (University of Chicago): Gravitational-wave Astronomy

Saturday, May 31, 2025 (1:00 pm–3:00 pm)
Rodrigo Ferrer-Chavez (Northwestern University): Exoplanets, Telescope Instrumentation
Ilia Kiato (Northwestern University): Compact Binaries, Stellar Evolution

Worldwide Telescope

Worldwide Telescope (WWT) is an open-source visualization software package that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope. Adler SVL staff have contributed to the content and development of WWT. Worldwide Telescope was used to create the Adler’s former sky show, Cosmic Wonder, and it powers several exhibits throughout the museum.