’Scopes At The Adler
Look up with us from our home on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan!
’Scopes at the Adler combines everything you love about our neighborhood telescope program (looking at cool objects, learning from our educators, and more!) but from the planetarium. Throughout the week there are opportunities to observe the daytime or nighttime sky from the Telescope Terrace or you can observe through our Doane Observatory telescope on Wednesday nights!
Both big and small ’scope observing opportunities are weather dependent and pending staff and volunteer availability. Join our Facebook Group to be the first to know when the Doane Observatory will be open or when we’re having any special telescope observing events at the museum.
Doane Observatory: Open Wednesdays Nights
The Adler Planetarium’s Doane Observatory houses the largest telescope available to the public in the Chicagoland area! That means that guests get to see the sharpest and brightest view of our universe that Chicago has to offer. It gathers over 7,000 times more light than the unaided human eye, allowing you to see celestial objects that are trillions of miles away. And we think that’s pretty cool!
- Hours: Open on Wednesday nights during Adler at Night*
- Located to the east of our main building, right next to the shores of Lake Michigan—follow the sidewalk around the building. If the doors are open, you’re welcome to come on in and check out the sights.
- Please note: *Doane Observatory hours vary and the observatory opening is always weather dependent. Additionally, depending on crowd size and/or weather, the line entry may close prior to the time listed in the Facebook Group, so be sure to arrive early!
Small Telescope Observing
The Adler grounds are a perfect place for our guests to explore the universe with our astronomy educators and our telescope volunteers. During the day, we look at the Sun (safely-filtered of course), and at night, we might see the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, or maybe other objects, depending on when we’re viewing!* Inquire at the box office on your next visit to see if telescope observing is happening that day—this surprise and delight opportunity is free with museum admission.
- Located on the Telescope Terrace on the south end of the Adler’s grounds.
- Please note: *Small telescope observing at the Adler Planetarium is weather dependent and pending staff or volunteer availability.
Thanks To Our Sponsors
A special thank you to the Founding Donor of our public observing programs, The Petrovich Family.
