Museums

In partnership with the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Adler Planetarium will present “Hidden Figures Revealed,” a three day event celebrating the many contributions of African-American Women in STEM.

In what has to be the most dramatic planetarium show in this (or any other) cosmos, The Adler has harnessed the sheer power of their high-tech Grainger Sky Theatre, along with a bit of theatrical finesse to pull off Destination Solar System, the latest in its slate of state of the art sky shows that place the viewer squarely in the midst of the galaxy in which we live. The twist? This show takes place in the year 2096. And that’s where it gets theatrical.

Our history is rich with stories of African-American innovators who have shaped our world. And looking forward, people of African descent have been infusing their culture into scientific concepts through Afrofuturism. At the heart of space science lies the scientific and technological innovation of a culture that has influenced the world in countless ways. This month, in partnership with organizations around Chicago, the Adler Planetarium will spotlight these contributions with special programming in celebration of Black History Month.

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of the United States for the first time since 1979. In Chicago, at 11:54 am CST, the Moon will start to block our view of the Sun, covering up to 87 percent of it by 1:19 p.m. The last time Chicago was this close to the path of totality (when the Moon blocks the Sun completely) was 92 years ago in 1925. In celebration, the Adler Planetarium is throwing a giant block party, inviting everyone to come together to experience this rare celestial event as a community, and making it possible by offering free general admission to all.