Transit of Venus Festivities at the Adler Planetarium tomorrow! This is a once in a lifetime event :)

The Adler Planetarium will be celebrating the last Transit of Venus of the 21st century! Observe the Sun safely here with us, and participate in much, much more!

On June 5, as part of Adler's Discount Days promotion, general admission to the museum for Illinois residents (with proof of residency) will be free, with special Transit event museum hours until 9:00 pm. Tickets to planetarium shows, tours, etc. will incur an extra cost.

If you miss this transit, the next Transit of Venus is not until 2117 - and that one will not be visible at all from Chicago. Chances are high that no one alive today who sees the 2012 Transit will see the next one!


"Transit of Venus" Special Exhibit
Dates: May 24 - June 15, 2012
Location: Lower Level, Near the Definiti Space Theater and in the Universe in Your Hands gallery. Periodically during the evening, a History of Astronomy curator will be on hand to answer your questions about the artifacts. Specific times to be announced.

An exhibit showcasing the Adler's best Transit of Venus-related books, instruments, and works on paper dating from the 1660s to the 1880s will be on display. Several items have not been displayed previously. Don't miss the hand-painted "magic lantern" slides from the 1800s! These optical and mechanical marvels were projected (using intense "limelight") onto screens to amaze popular audiences. We are exhibiting two mechanical Transit of Venus lantern slides which--when someone turned a crank on the slide--actually moved a dot representing Venus across the projected face of the Sun. There will also be a rare French map from 1769, on loan from an Adler trustee, illustrating the parts of the Earth from which that year's Transit would be viewable. You can find similar maps of this year's Transit on the Web, but this one was made 243 years ago!


Telescope Observing
Time: 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. (approximately)

Don’t miss your last chance to see the Transit of Venus! Adler staff and volunteers will be available outside on the north and west sides of the Adler to facilitate safe viewing of the Transit using specially-outfitted telescopes. Weather permitting, observing will begin prior to the transit at 4:00 p.m. CDT. The transit begins at 5:04 p.m. CDT. Observing will end (again, weather-permitting) when the Sun sinks behind the city of Chicago skyline at approximately 7:30 p.m.


Live NASA Broadcast of the Transit
Time: 5:00 - 8:45 p.m.
Location: Universe Theater (Note: The opportunity for entry to the Universe Theater will be included in general building admission. Entry to the theater will be on a first-come, first-served basis until theater capacity is reached. Entry will only occur when seats are available, at the discretion of Adler staff. Visitors will be welcome to leave the theater at any time.)

NASA will broadcast a live internet feed from telescopes atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii throughout the transit. Watch this NASA Edge production in the Adler’s Universe Theater starting at 5 pm! Adler staff will also be available to answer questions about the Transit, Venus, and the search for planets around other stars.


Space Visualization Laboratory
Time: 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Lower Level, near the entrance to the “Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass” exhibit

Astronomers will be available for questions on the Transit of Venus and transits, in general, at the Adler's Space Visualization Laboratory (SVL). The Lab will showcase movies and interactive visualizations to better explain the ways we observe them.


Activities
Time: Periodically starting at 4:00 p.m.

Adler Mission Specialists will be walking around during the Transit facilitating several activities:

Activity #1: What does parallax have to do with transits?
Activity #2: Finding planets using transits
Activity #3: Let’s compare Earth and Venus!
These fun sessions will happen periodically inside and outside the Adler in various locations. If you see one of our Mission Specialists, please join in!


Planetarium Shows
Time: During the evening

Planetarium shows will occur throughout the evening in the Grainger Sky Theater and the Definiti Space Theater. Tickets for all shows will be available for purchase at the Box Office on the day of the event. The featured shows are currently scheduled to include a transit-themed Night Sky Live, Undiscovered Worlds, and The Searcher.


Hunt for Planets with the Citizen Science Team
Time: During the evening

Members of staff from the Adler’s Department of Citizen Science will be explaining how members of the public have found new exoplanets using the Zooniverse citizen science project Planet Hunters. There will also be an opportunity to try exoplanet hunting yourself with members of the team!

Learn more about Planet Hunters on the Zooniverse website. http://www.planethunters.org/


Café Service
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

A limited menu of sandwiches and snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the Adler Planetarium Classrooms from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

(Please note: Cafe Galileo's will be closed during the evening of June 5 for a private event.)
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