Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
add photosThe Adler Planetarium — America's First Planetarium — was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. The museum is home to three full-size theaters, including the all-digital projection Definiti® Space Theater, the Sky Theater which utilizes a Zeiss optical projector, and the Universe 3D Theater. It is also home to one of the world's most important antique instrument collections. The Adler is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities, to pursue careers in science.
4 Reviews for Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
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00 families found this helpful
"Not the best"
We went here expecting a lot since Chicago has great museums like the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum, but we really weren't that impressed. The shows were nothing special and the exhibits were pretty typical of any science museum. You won't regret spending time here, but you can certainly find something better to do in Chicago.
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1 family found this helpful
"head in the clouds"
The planetarium wasn't as big as I expected. Most of the exhibits were beyond my kids' understanding (my children were 6 and 2 years old then). But I was glad we went, it was a good intro to astronomy for them. We will probably go again when the kids are a bit older.
'10
0 families found this helpful
"Awesome must-see!"
The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is a DEFINITE must-see, even if you are not that into astronomy. It is eye-opening, to say the least.... there is a lot to see and do, and they have several highly educational and entertaining presentations and exhibits. It is located near other attractions, so you could feasibly spend part of the day here and be able to walk to another museum to fill the rest of your day.
0 families found this helpful
"Interesting for most ages"
A permanent exhibit added in 2006, Shoot for the Moon, includes the Gemini 12 spacecraft flown by astronaut Jim Lovell (the one played by Tom Hanks in the 1995 movie Apollo 13) and some of Lovell’s space-related memorabilia. There are special Sky Theater programs designed for children age 6 or younger; call to plan for one of these if you have small children. If your child gets scared of the dark, consider thoughtfully whether she or he is really ready for a planetarium show. Older kids and teens may enjoy the SonicVision digital animation show with sound track by Coldplay, U2, Radiohead, and Moby.
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