The Adler Planetarium in Chicago does not have a large number of exhibits, but it makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity. I made a day trip out of it by spending half the day in the planetarium and the other half of the day in the nearby Shedd Aquarium.
See my previous photo diaries on Chicago here:
Chicago landmarks: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here are some photos from the Adler Planetarium:
Statue of Copernicus
Sundial
The telescope used by Herschel to find the planet Uranus
The exhibit hall
A piece of meteorite NWA 2975, which landed in Algeria. When the gases inside it were examined, they were found to match the atmosphere of Mars. It is presumed that this piece of Mars was blown into space by an impact, and was captured by the earth's gravity. (I also have a small piece of NWA 2975--see my diary here: http://www.dailykos.com/....)
Replica of the Mars rover "Spirit"
Piece of meteorite found in Berringer's Crater, Arizona
A piece of moon rock from the Apollo flights
One of the plaques that Apollo 13 was supposed to have left on the moon
Astronaut James Lovell's helmet and gloves from Apollo 13
The Gemini 12 space ship flown by James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin in 1966
Ever wonder where the early astronauts pooped? A "fecal collection bag" from the Gemini program