The Adler Planetarium, in Chicago, Illinois, gives one not only the opportunity to learn about space but also the history of astronomy and astrology.
Founded by philanthropist Max Adler, the design of the planetarium is award-winning, with twelve panels containing a sculptural bas-relief depiction of each zodiac sign. The Adler Planetarium houses an extensive number of historical artifacts including one of the largest astrolabe collections in the world!
Astrolabes were early hand-held analog computers. Stargazers in Ancient Greece, the Middle East, and Western Europe used these tools to understand the universe and organize their daily lives.
Some of the world's earliest astrolabes, located at the Adler Planetarium, Chicago
This 16th century artistic planisphere, displayed at Adler, shows 48 constellations. The basic pattern followed is that of Ptolemy's Almagest (dating from c.150 AD) and forms the basis of part of the list of constellations established by the International Astronomical Union in the 1920s, most from Greek and Roman mythology. These include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces along with others.
In its place in history as the Western Hemisphere's first planetarium, Adler is one of the most captivating destinations in this galaxy.