Chabot Space and Science Center

Chabot Space and Science Center is a science museum, planetarium and public observatory in Oakland, California, with roots going back to 1883.

About Chabot Space and Science Center

Chabot combines interactive science exhibits, planetariums and a large-screen theatre with three public telescopes, making it one of the longest-running centres for astronomy education in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has partnered with NASA and hosts the NASA Ames Visitor Center on site.

History

The story begins in 1883, when Oakland Public Schools superintendent Jewett Gilson founded the Oakland Observatory, with funding from philanthropist Anthony Chabot. Chabot donated the original 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor on the condition that it remain freely open to the public in perpetuity. The observatory first stood at Lafayette Square before moving to Mountain Boulevard in 1915 to escape growing light pollution. The modern Chabot Space and Science Center, an 86,000-square-foot facility on a 13-acre site bordering Redwoods Regional Park, opened on 19 August 2000, continuing the mission of free public access to astronomy that Chabot's original gift established.

Telescopes & research

The center operates three telescopes for public and educational use, alongside its planetariums and large-screen theatre. Its long partnership with NASA includes hosting the NASA Ames Visitor Center, connecting visitors with current space science alongside its own astronomy programmes.

Location & getting there

Chabot Space and Science Center sits on the western edge of Redwoods Regional Park in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Visiting Chabot Space and Science Center

Chabot has offered free public access to its telescopes since Anthony Chabot's original 1883 donation, and the center continues to run public observatory nights alongside its museum exhibits and planetarium shows. Check the official website for current hours, ticket prices and telescope viewing schedules before visiting.

See your named star from here

A center with this much history in public stargazing is a fitting place to view a star named in someone's honour: every Star Register star comes with exact coordinates staff or visitors can use with Chabot's telescopes. Name a star or browse the catalogue to see stars already named.