Adler Planetarium

Adler Planetarium marks moon landing's 40th anniversary

On July 16, 1969, with its Saturn rockets firing, Apollo 11 shot towards the heavens in its historic journey to the moon. Carrying three astronauts and the lunar landing module, Eagle, the mission culminated the space race.

On July 20 of that year, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to walk the dusty lunar surface. Journey back to that historic moment and celebrate with the Adler Planetarium in its One Small Step: Apollo 11 40th Anniversary exhibit recalling the nine-day flight and the lunar landing.

From July 1 through July 31, the Adler will host all things lunar — from books to photos and even a sweet treat.

Throughout July, visitors can watch rare footage from the mission, including the moon landing. Authentic artifacts from the Apollo missions will be on display in the Adler’s Shoot for the Moon exhibit. Visit the new Moon Wall, a 13-by-six-foot screen displaying the latest lunar images. Navigate the surface via joystick and fly over a 3-D model of the moon.

The first 50 visitors on July 1 will receive a free replica of the Apollo 11 mission patch. Each day all visitors will be given a free commemorative Apollo 11 poster. In celebration of the landing, on July 20, the Alder will cut a Lunar Landing Cake (no, it's not made out of cheese!) at precisely 3:17 p.m. — the exact time of Eagle’s touch down. The museum will stay open until 10 p.m. on July 20, giving visitors the opportunity to experience a telescope viewing of the moon and to touch an authentic moon rock.

Other events throughout the month include a lecture by award-winning historian Craig Nelson, author of the new book, Rocket Men. The Doane Observatory will be open every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. throughout the exhibit.

Join the Adler in this month-long silvery wonder that has inspired music, poetry and mankind. For a full schedule of events, click here .

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for adult Chicago residents, $6 for children aged 3–14 and $5 for children who are Chicago residents. For details on packages, click here. The Adler Planetarium does not sell tickets in advance.