Adler Planetarium will host its Celestial Ball: Adler Anywhere, as a digital gala, on September 18.
At the eastern edge of Chicago’s skyline, on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan, the Adler Planetarium’s distinctive dome beckons city dwellers and visitors alike to look up and explore the wonders of the cosmos.
As the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, the Adler has been connecting people to the universe and each other for more than 90 years. Its award-winning original dome shows transport audiences to celestial locales as near as the surface of Earth’s moon and as distant as the outskirts of the known universe.
Over the decades, the Adler has brought the science of astronomy down to Earth and encouraged visitors to cast their minds to the stars. The museum’s interactive exhibits and world-renowned collections of astrolabes, rare books, and other astronomy artifacts tell the human stories of space exploration.
But the Adler is much more than a museum. It meets people wherever they are and connects them to others in their communities and around the world. Adler teens and scientists recently worked together on the first-ever light pollution survey of Chicago — a major research project with real-life implications for other cities. Adler astronomers and educators bring telescopes to public places around the city to remind our neighbors that we all share one sky (and to help them see planets and stars with their own eyes). Anyone with a computer and internet connection can explore the past, present, and future of astronomy in the Adler’s immersive online exhibits or join more 2.3 million volunteers around the world to help a research team complete a project.
In the past year, the Adler has built up its digital presence in unprecedented ways. It has launched several new initiatives, including virtual field trips that allow students to explore a 3D environment in small groups from anywhere in the world; a live stargazing show where viewers can learn how to find objects in the sky wherever they live and interact with astronomers in real time; and a whimsical, musical, sometimes educational sketch comedy show about space.
On September 18, the Adler will host its second fully digital fundraising gala, Celestial Ball: Adler Anywhere, in celebration of the museum’s newest, one-of-a-kind, original digital programming. Guests will enjoy stunning space visualizations and an exclusive conversation between Adler teen Claudia Jimenez and astronaut Joan Higginbotham. The event will include a presentation of the 2021 Corporate Partner Award to Ulta Beauty, which will be accepted by Ulta CEO Dave Kimbell. The gala is expected to raise more than a million dollars to support the Adler’s digital and in-person experiences, its work with local teens and communities, and its ability to help people anywhere in the world feel how deeply connected they are to our universe and to each other.
To learn more and reserve your tickets, click here.
