Adler Planetarium

What's On

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Imagine the Moon

A 30-minute dome show on how the Moon has shaped human creativity, learning and exploration, from ancient sky-watching to modern missions.

Now showingOngoing

Worlds Beyond Earth

A 30-minute dome show on what robotic missions have revealed about our solar system, and what other planets teach us about Earth.

Now showingOngoing

One World, One Sky

A 30-minute dome show for young children in which Big Bird and Elmo travel to the Moon and back, introducing the night sky to first-time stargazers.

Now showingOngoing

Dark Side of the Moon

A 45-minute immersive dome experience pairing Pink Floyd's album with full-dome space visuals in the Grainger Sky Theater.

Now showingOngoing

Skywatch Live

A live 30-minute presenter-led tour of the constellations, stars and Moon exactly as they appear over Chicago on the day of your visit, free of light pollution.

Now showingOngoing

Permanent Collections

Stars Aligned

Rare books and instruments from 1500-1800 show how astronomy and astrology were once one practice, from medical texts to Benjamin Banneker's 1795 almanac.

Permanent collection$25

Atwood Sphere

A live tour inside Chicago's oldest sky simulator: a 1913 metal globe pierced with 692 holes that recreates the city's night sky as it looked a century ago.

Permanent collection$25

Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass

Four centuries of optical instruments drawn from the Adler's collection, with rare telescopes, books and documents tracing how lenses reshaped our view of the sky.

Permanent collection$25

Chicago's Night Sky

A gallery about the sky over Chicago itself, exploring light pollution and how the same sky connects every neighbourhood in the city to everyone, everywhere.

Permanent collection$25

Stargazers Hub

A hands-on gallery of astronomy's tools, from orreries and astrolabes to some of the oldest known telescopes, with an observation station of lenses.

Permanent collection$25

The Universe In Your Hands

100 hand-held and table-top instruments from the Adler's collection, including sundials, astrolabes and armillary spheres, showing how people used the sky to keep time.

Permanent collection$25

Mission Moon

Follows NASA astronaut Captain James A. Lovell Jr. from test pilot to Apollo 13, told through his personal archive and the Gemini 12 capsule he flew.

Permanent collection$25

The Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time

A walk-through timeline of 13.7 billion years of cosmic history, travelling from the Big Bang out to the most distant corners of the observable universe.

Permanent collection$25

Other Worlds

Explores the planets of our solar system alongside exoplanets far beyond it: gas giants, ice giants, super-Earths and mini-Neptunes.

Permanent collection$25

Nearby

i

Shedd Aquarium

Children7 min walk

i

Field Museum

History10 min walk

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Museum of Contemporary Photography

ArtFree19 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Adler Planetarium cost?

Standard adult admission to Adler Planetarium is $25. General admission starts at $25; dome shows extra. Free days for Illinois residents on selected dates; $5 discount for Chicago residents.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.

What are the opening hours of Adler Planetarium?

Adler Planetarium is open Thursday-Tuesday 9:00-16:00; Wednesday 16:00-22:00 (timed entry). Last admission one hour before close. Closed 19 September 2026, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.

Where is Adler Planetarium?

Adler Planetarium is located at 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States, in the Museum Campus / Northerly Island area of Chicago. The nearest stations are Roosevelt (CTA Red, Orange & Green lines), Museum Campus/11th Street (Metra Electric) and Bus #146 Museum Campus stop.

What can I see at Adler Planetarium?

America's first planetarium, an Art Deco landmark on Lake Michigan with three domes and skyline views. Current highlights include Stars Aligned, Atwood Sphere and Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass.

Do I need to book Adler Planetarium in advance?

Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.

When is the best time to visit Adler Planetarium?

Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.