Adler Planetarium facts for kids
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The Adler Planetarium
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The planetarium in 2022
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 Location in Central Chicago
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| Location | 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois, United States |
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| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Ernest Grunsfeld Jr. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000819 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1987 |
| Designated NHL | February 27, 1987 |
The Adler Planetarium is a cool public museum in Chicago, Illinois. It's all about astronomy (the study of space) and astrophysics (the physics of space). A businessman named Max Adler started it in 1930.
It sits on Northerly Island by Lake Michigan. The Adler Planetarium was the very first planetarium in the United States! It's part of Chicago's Museum Campus. This campus also includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum. The Planetarium's main goal is to help people explore and understand the amazing universe.
The Adler Planetarium opened on May 12, 1930. Its architect, Ernest A. Grunsfeld Jr., won an award for his design. In 1987, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
The Adler has three theaters and many space science exhibits. You can even see the Gemini 12 space capsule there! It also has a collection of old scientific tools and books. Plus, the Adler Planetarium has the Doane Observatory. This is a special place where scientists do research and the public can look through telescopes.
The planetarium is surrounded by cool sculptures. These include Man Enters the Cosmos by Henry Moore and Spiral Galaxy by John David Mooney.
Contents
Exploring the Adler Planetarium's History
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How the Adler Planetarium Began
In 1913, a German museum asked a company called Carl Zeiss Works to create a machine. This machine would project images of stars and planets onto a dome. Walther Bauersfeld designed it, and it became known as a planetarium. The first one opened in 1923. These planetariums became very popular. By 1929, there were many in Europe.
Max Adler was a retired businessman from Chicago. He heard about a planetarium in Munich, Germany. He thought a planetarium would be perfect for Chicago's new Museum Campus. Adler visited the Munich planetarium with his cousin, Ernest Grunsfeld Jr. He then asked Grunsfeld to design the Chicago building.
Adler also bought a collection of old astronomical tools and antiques. This collection became the start of the Astronomical Museum. In 1928, Adler offered $500,000 to build the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
The planetarium was first planned to be part of the Museum of Science and Industry. But there were delays with that project. So, Adler looked for another spot. The city had just finished creating Northerly Island. This island was meant for fun activities.
The Adler Planetarium and Astronomical Museum opened on Max Adler's birthday, May 12, 1930. It was a big success!
Important Moments in Adler's History
- 1923 – The first modern planetarium was invented in Germany. It could project a realistic night sky.
- 1928 – Max Adler visited Germany and was so impressed. He decided to donate money to build the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
- 1930 – Max Adler bought a collection of old scientific tools. This collection became the start of the Adler's exhibits. The Adler Planetarium opened on May 12. Phillip Fox, an astronomy professor, became its first director.
- 1933 – The Century of Progress Exposition (a big fair) took place near the planetarium.
- 1952 – Max Adler passed away.
- 1967 – The Adler Planetarium updated its building. It also replaced its original projector with a new Mark VI Zeiss unit.
- 1973 – A new underground part of the building opened to the public.
- 1977 – The Doane Observatory opened.
- 1991 – The museum finished a big renovation project.
- 1999 – The 60,000 square foot Sky Pavilion opened. This new area added four new exhibit galleries. It also included the historic Atwood Sphere and the Definiti Theater.
- 2005 – Retired NASA Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr. helped celebrate Adler's 75th anniversary.
- 2007 – The Adler opened its new Space Visualization Laboratory. This lab brings the latest space images to the public.
- 2010 – The Adler began to transform its historic Sky Theater.
- 2011 – The renamed Grainger Sky Theater opened in May. It was one of the most advanced dome theaters in the world at the time.
- 2013 – Michelle B. Larson, Ph.D., became the Adler's new president and CEO. She was the first woman to lead the planetarium.
- 2015 – The Doane Observatory finished a major upgrade.
Exploring Space: Research at the Adler
The Adler Planetarium has departments that do research. They study space and the history of astronomy. They share their findings with scientists and the public.
Adler astronomers are experts in many areas of space science. They study things like planetary geology (how planets are made), star formation (how stars are born), and gamma-rays.
The Collections department takes care of the planetarium's objects. Since it opened, the collection has grown to about 8,000 items. These include old scientific tools, books, and photos. The Adler has the largest collection of historic scientific instruments in the Western Hemisphere.
The Space Visualization Laboratory (SVL) opened in 2007. It helps people explore the Universe using virtual tools.
The Adler also hosts The Zooniverse. This is a huge project where people from all over the world can help scientists. They can discover planets, map Mars, or find solar flares. Over a million online volunteers have helped with these projects!
Far Horizons is the Adler's high-altitude balloon program. People can design and launch experiments on balloons. These balloons fly very high, over 100,000 feet (about 30,000 meters)! This program gives students a chance to work on real science and engineering challenges.
The Doane Observatory: Looking at the Stars
The Doane Observatory opened in 1977. It has the largest telescope available to the public in Chicago. Its 20-inch (50.8 cm) mirror can gather over 5,000 times more light than your eye! This lets you see amazing things like the Moon, planets, stars, and even distant galaxies.
In 2013, the Doane Observatory had a big renovation. It was finished in 2015. They added an indoor classroom and made it easier to access. They also upgraded the telescope and other technology.
The Adler Planetarium is also part of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope project. This is a huge telescope project that will map the entire night sky.
Adler's Amazing Theaters
The Adler Planetarium has three domed theaters. The biggest one is the Grainger Sky Theater. Its dome is 21 meters (about 69 feet) across. It's where you can watch incredible shows about space.
Fun Programs at the Adler
The Adler Planetarium offers many fun programs for different ages.
- Adler After Dark is an evening event for people aged 21 and older. It was voted "Best After Hours Event" in Chicago. Guests can explore the museum, enjoy themed programs, and see sky shows. They also get great views of the Chicago skyline.
- Astro Overnights let families spend a night at the Adler. They get to explore the museum, watch a sky show, and do educational activities.
- The Astronomy Department also gives talks about new discoveries in space.
The Adler hosts Hack Days where people can work together to solve problems. Software developers, designers, scientists, and artists all join in. The Adler also has summer camps for kids aged 5–14. Campers can build rockets, launch high-altitude balloons, and learn all about space.
See also
In Spanish: Planetario Adler para niños
- List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago
- List of planetariums
- Museum Campus
- Spiral Galaxy (sculpture)
- List of astronomical observatories
