The Adler ‘Scope

Header Image: Madge Webster in her element, surrounded by historical scientific instruments, and holding an astrolabe while wearing another one in a necklace (Adler archives). While to many the name “Webster” will evoke a famous dictionary, in the Adler family it resonates with collections, history of astronomy, a passion for scientific instruments, and generous support […]

Header Image: Three Tusken Raider cosplayers sitting on the steps outside the Adler Planetarium for the 2014 Adler After Dark: Geek Chic event. As we were preparing to celebrate Star Wars Day, Adler Astronomer Dr. Geza Gyuk raised a very interesting scientific question about the Star Wars universe: Why do all the aliens in Star Wars […]

Header Image: Total lunar eclipse seen in Chicago.  Header Image Credit: Nick Lake  Eclipses don’t happen often. When they do, they come in pairs about two weeks apart. A partial solar eclipse on April 30 overshadows only a small portion of the Southern Hemisphere–but the eastern half of the U.S. gets the chance to see […]

Header Image: Total lunar eclipse seen in the United States on April 15th, 2014 in San Jose, California. Image Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/Brian Day If you love looking up at the Moon, you’re in for a stellar treat this May! On May 15, 2022, starting at 8:32 pm CT, the Flower Moon will begin […]

Header Image: The famous Earthrise photo from the Apollo 8 mission. Image Credit: NASA Ah, planet Earth—the spinning space rock we fondly call home! Our perception of home can change depending on our situation. For someone who moves a lot, home may be an object or a person. It could be a memory from their […]

Header Image: Rotating Earth model seen in the Adler Planetarium’s Our Solar System exhibit. March 2022. Every planet in our solar system has its charms. Jupiter’s a great one if you’re into enormously destructive storms that have been raging for hundreds of years. Saturn has those pretty rings. But if you enjoy breathing, eating, and […]

Header Image: Hubble’s new portrait of Jupiter. Header Image Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M.H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley). Before dawn breaks each morning, take a look at what is rising before the Sun this month, April 2022.   The first week of the month, the brightest planet, Venus, and […]

Header Image: Adler Planetarium’s Lookup graphic depicting the spring and fall celestial event, Chicagohenge It’s time to “spring forward” and experience one of Chicago’s most picturesque sky highlights this month, March 2022. Daylight Saving time for 2022 starts March 13, at 2:00 am local time. On this morning we “spring-forward” by setting our clocks ahead […]

Header Image: Adler Planetarium December 2021. Editor’s Note: Updated in September 2024 to reflect more current and updated exhibit information. As the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere (and one of the historic attractions located on Chicago’s Museum Campus) we’ve got some pretty stellar exhibits you don’t want to miss during your visit! Read on to […]

Header Image: Venus by NASA’s Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1974 Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The brightest planet in the sky gets even brighter than usual this month, February 2022. The planet Venus reaches its greatest brilliance for the entire year this month. Look for Venus very low in the southeast at the start of morning twilight. […]