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

January 2025 Adler Researchers And Visiting Scientists In The SVL

Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Beryl Hovis-Afflerbach (Northwestern University): Massive Stars, High-redshift Galaxies
Anna Kofman (University of Chicago): Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes, High Energy Neutrino Observatories

Saturday, January 11, 2025
Anna Kofman (University of Chicago): Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes, High Energy Neutrino Observatories
Dr. Lauren Saunders (Fermilab): Cosmic Microwave Background Experimentation

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Nicole Flors (Northwestern University): Accretion, Fluid Dynamics, Compact Objects
Dr. Michael Zhang (University of Chicago): Exoplanet Atmospheres

Thursday, January 16, 2025
Dr. Mike Zevin (Adler Planetarium): Gravitational Waves, Compact Objects, Stellar Evolution, General Astronomy

Saturday, January 18, 2025
Dr. Amy Bender (Argonne National Lab): Cosmic Microwave Background, Cosmology
Pavani Jairam (Northwestern University): High Energy Astrophysics

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Andrew Marszewski (Northwestern University): Extragalactic Astrophysics
Imran Sultan (Northwestern University): Galaxy Formation, Cosmology

Thursday, January 23, 2025
To be announced

Saturday, January 25, 2025
Dr. Dominic Samra (University of Chicago): Exoplanet Atmospheres
Dr. Chun-Hao To (University of Chicago): Large-scale Structure, Gravitational Lensing

Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Dr. Sylvia Biscoveanu (Northwestern University): Gravitational-wave Astronomy
George Iskander (University of Chicago): Dark Matter

Thursday, January 30, 2025
To be announced

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.