Attraction
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is a major encyclopaedic art museum on Michigan Avenue, with collections spanning thousands of years and a separate Modern Wing entrance…
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium, opened in 1930 on the Museum Campus lakefront, mixes dome theatre sky shows with space exhibitions, historic instruments and a public observatory.
At a glance
- Type
- Planetarium and astronomy museum
- Area
- Museum Campus, Chicago, United States
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- adlerplanetarium.org
Good to know
- Three theatres
- Free wheelchairs
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cosmic Cafe
- Space Shop
Why we recommend it
The Adler Planetarium stands on the lakefront at the eastern end of the Museum Campus, beyond the Shedd Aquarium. It opened to the public on 12 May 1930, and its site looks back across the water to the downtown skyline, which makes the walk out here part of the visit.
The heart of a visit is the sky shows. The Adler has three theatres, two domed and one standard, including the Grainger Sky Theater. Shows run for about 30 to 45 minutes and the programme changes, with titles that have included Worlds Beyond Earth, Imagine the Moon and live presentations where a guide explains what is in tonight's sky. Between shows, exhibitions cover space science and the history of astronomy, with the Gemini 12 capsule and a historic collection of scientific instruments among the highlights. The Doane Observatory, a public observatory with a 20-inch mirror, is also part of the site, and Henry Moore's sculpture Man Enters the Cosmos stands outside.
Opening hours vary through the week. The planetarium opens from 9am to 4pm Friday to Monday, and from 11am to 4pm on Tuesday and Thursday, when the morning is reserved for school groups. On Wednesday it opens from 4pm to 10pm with timed-entry tickets only, which is a good chance for an evening visit. Last admission is an hour before closing. Book tickets online in advance, and check the site for Illinois resident free days.
The Adler suits families with children of school age, couples and anyone curious about space. Allow two to three hours to see one or two shows and the main galleries. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed for free from the box offices, lifts serve all floors, and each theatre has wheelchair seating. There is no cloakroom or lockers, so travel light. The Cosmic Cafe serves breakfast and lunch, and free Wi-Fi is available.
Public transport is the easiest way to arrive: take the train to Roosevelt on the Red, Orange or Green lines, then the number 146 bus. Parking on the Museum Campus is run by the Park District and prices rise on event days at nearby venues. The Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum are a short walk west, so all three Museum Campus sights can be combined in a long day.
Adler Planetarium FAQs
What are the Adler Planetarium's opening hours?
Friday to Monday 9am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday 11am to 4pm, and Wednesday 4pm to 10pm.
When is last admission?
One hour before closing.
Do you need to book?
Booking online in advance is recommended, and Wednesday evenings are timed-entry only.
How long are the sky shows?
Most last about 30 minutes, and some about 45 minutes.
When did it open?
The Adler opened to the public on 12 May 1930.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Lifts serve all floors, every theatre has wheelchair seating, and free manual wheelchairs can be borrowed.
Is there a cloakroom?
No. There is no coat check or lockers.
How do you get there?
Take the L to Roosevelt, then the number 146 bus to the Museum Campus.
How can you contact the Adler?
By email at [email protected].