Adler Planetarium

FREE admission to Adler Planetarium with the Go Chicago Card or as a choice with the Chicago Explorer Pass

Description

Located on Chicago’s lakefront with an award-winning view of the city skyline, the Adler Planetarium features exhibitions for all ages and spectacular sky and space shows.

On March 26, 2010, the Adler will open Planet Explorers, the most immersive, hands-on exhibition ever created for families at the planetarium. Children ages 3 – 8 take the helm in a modern-day space adventure.

The permanent exhibition, Shoot for the Moon, highlights the exciting stories of space exploration. The fully-restored Gemini 12 spacecraft flown by NASA astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin is featured in the exhibition, along with an interactive Moon Wall where guests can view actual footage of the moon’s surface.

You’ll find a lot more than the standard star shows of the planetariums of old. There are three theatres, numerous exhibits, a regular cycle of special events, and plenty of interactive exhibits for young and old alike.

Even the location is special. Alder Planetarium is a popular spot to get amazing views (and photos) of the Chicago skyline. While centrally located near Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, Alder Planetarium sits on the northern end of an island in lake Michigan, giving it an unobstructed vantage point from which to look across the waters of Lake Michigan and Chicago Harbor to the skyline of Chicago’s central Loop district. So to capture a guidebook quality photo of your visit, be sure to head to Alder Planetarium.

Note:

On rare occasions this attraction closes early due to private functions, outside of the control of Go Chicago Card.

Price:

Cost with the card: free

Cost without the card:
Adult (13+): $24.00
Child (3-12): $20.00

Hours:

Daily, 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Closed:

Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. All holiday hours are subject to change without notice.

Driving:

From the City, north of the Museum: Take Lake Shore Drive (US-41) south past Grant Park. Continue south until the 18th street exit. Turn left on 18th street and continue as it bends left, becoming Museum Campus Drive. Continue right onto Solidarity Drive to Alder Planetarium.

From the City, south of the Museum: Take Lake Shore Drive (US-41) north. Continue on Lake Shore Drive until the 18th street exit. Turn right on 18th street and continue as it bends left, becoming Museum Campus Drive. Continue right onto Solidarity Drive to Alder Planetarium.

Public Transportation:

By Bus: CTA bus #146 stops along Michigan Avenue north of the river and on State Street south of the river and will drop you off in front of Alder Planetarium.

By subway: CTA Orange, Red, or Green line. Exit the train at the Roosevelt stop. Then take CTA bus #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, which will drop you off in front of Alder Planetarium.

Please read: important instructions on how to use your card.

Redemption Instructions:

Please present your Go Chicago Card to any ticket taker. They will validate it, return your card, and let you in.

The Go City Card is accepted until 5:30pm unless otherwise noted; during all other times standard admission will apply.