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 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 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Hours (School Groups Only): Thursdays 11:00 am–12:00 pm
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 In The SVL

Saturday, March 8, 2025
Dr. Leah Jenks (University of Chicago): Theoretical Cosmology, Relativity, Particle Physics
Dr. Cyndia Yu (Argonne National Lab, University of Chicago): Cosmology, Cosmic Microwave Background, Instrumentation

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Anna Kofman (University of Chicago): Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes, High Energy Neutrino Observatories
Edin Peskovic (Illinois Institute of Technology): Stellar Evolution

Thursday, March 13, 2025
Dr. Katie Boyce-Jacino (Adler Planetarium): History of Astronomy and Planetariums, Adler Planetarium’s Collections Team

Saturday, March 15, 2025 (special time: 1pm–4pm)
Henna Abunemeh (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Supernovae and Spectroscopy
Dr. Veronica Dike (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Observational Cosmology
Austen Fourkas (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Radio Astronomy, Circumstellar Disks
Achintya Krishnan (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Cosmic Microwave Background
Liam Nolan (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Binary Active Galactic Nuclei
Spencer Wilken (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Astronomy Education, AI in Astronomy

Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Dr. Tim Miller (Northwestern University): Observational Galaxy Evolution
Dr. Christopher O’Connor (Northwestern University): Extrasolar Planets, Stellar Evolution, Fluid Dynamics

Thursday, March 20, 2025
Dr. Giacomo Terreran (Adler Planetarium): Supernovae, Light Pollution

Saturday, March 22, 2025
Kierstin Sorensen (Northwestern University): Gravitational Waves, White Dwarfs, LISA
Nycole Wenner (Northwestern University): Radio Astronomy

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Dr. Cosmin Deaconu (University of Chicago): Particle Astrophysics
Aidan Simpson (University of Chicago): Blazars, South Pole Telescope

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Dr. Geza Gyuk (Adler Planetarium): High-energy Astrophysics, Asteroids, Light Pollution, General Astronomy

Saturday, March 29, 2025
Dr. Amy Bender (Argonne National Lab): Cosmic Microwave Background, Cosmology
Erik Solhaug (University of Chicago): First Galaxies, Gravitational Lensing, Reionization

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.