Chabot Space & Science Museum

Description 

The Chabot is a combined museum, observatory, planetarium, and theater.  As you might guess, there's a lot going on there, with a strong emphasis on space.

The "big name" exhibits as of December 2008 include "Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space" and "Destination Universe".  (If you've been there, feel free to add descriptions.)  The theater plays from a repertoire of a dozen or so movies at any one time, so there's quite a bit of variety.  However, most films play only once each day, so check the web site for a current schedule if you're looking to see something specific.

The observatory has three telescopes, each of which they have named.  The original 1883 instrument is an 8" refractor named Leah.  There is also a 20" refractor named Rache, and a new 36" reflector named Nellie.  There is public observing time on the weekends, both at night (as you'd expect) and during the day (which you might not).  Daytime viewing is mainly limited to the Sun, Earth's Moon, Venus, and similarly brilliant celestial bodies.  (If you ask the telescope operator to find Alyson Hannigan, he or she will probably smack you upside the head.  Just saying.)

Besides letting people look through their telescopes, the Chabot offers a Telescope Maker's Workshop every Friday from 7 PM to 10 PM (holidays excluded), to help you build your own telescope.  The "typical" telescope is an 8" diameter Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount.  With about 80 hours of elbow grease (yours) and some expert advice (theirs), you can produce a very good quality scope for about $300.  That's all for materials; the classes themselves are free, and are staffed by volunteers.  No previous experience is needed, and the process is straightforward enough that almost anyone can do it.  There is no minimum age for the workshops.

The Chabot also has a substantial virtual presence at http://www.chabotspace.org/vsc/, including a virtual astronomical observatory, virtual planetarium, and assorted virtual exhibits. 

Main Web Site

http://www.chabotspace.org/

Location

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA

Drive Time

from Ames (per Google maps):  52 minutes; up to 1 hour 10 minutes in traffic

Public Transit

???

Hours

General Admission

     Wed - Thu:  10 AM to 5 PM

     Fri - Sat:  10 AM to 10 PM

     Sun:  11 AM to 5 PM

     (closed Mon - Tue)

Free Telescope Viewing

     7:30 PM to 10:30 PM Fri - Sat

     1 PM to 4 PM Sat - Sun (yes, that's during the day)

There are also holiday hours, special hours for events, and a two-week period each September when the museum is closed for maintenance.  Check the web site for up-to-date information.

Cost

Adults $14.95 (13 years and up)

Youth $10.95 (ages 3 to 12 years)

These costs are for general admission, including one planetarium show and one theater show.

That's the simple price structure.  The details are much more complex, with at least occasional discounts for seniors, military personnel, firefighters, students, groups of 12 or more, and possibly little green men from Mars.  Check the web site for up-to-date information.