Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Area Attractions: Chabot Space & Science Center (Oakland)

 The newly-reopened Chabot Space & Science Center has relaunched with a full suite of events this December, bringing back many annual favorites in person.

Continuing Chabot’s long legacy as the largest observatory complex regularly free for public viewing in the Western United States, public telescope viewings have resumed in-person and virtually. Free Telescope Viewings invite the public to look through Chabot’s historic telescopes every Friday and Saturday from 7:30-10:30 p.m. By popular demand, Virtual Telescope Viewings will provide live views through Chabot’s most powerful telescope, Nellie on Facebook and YouTube at 9 p.m. every 3rd Thursday of the month.

Chabot Space & Science Center will also celebrate the Geminid Meteor Shower and the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Chabot’s Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party at 11 p.m. on December 13 is a popular annual event that offers darker skies away from city lights and engagement opportunities with Chabot astronomers. To mark the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, Chabot will offer a day of special activities, infrared demonstrations and talks about the telescope with educators and partners on December 18. 

Chabot’s Annual Balloon Drop Celebration continues in person on December 31. This sell-out event is an opportunity for families to mark the strokes of midnight around the world with hundreds of colorful, biodegradable balloons cascading from above. This year, drops will be offered at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

With a new NASA Ames Visitor Center, stunning murals and teen-led activities, the newly-reopened Chabot Space & Science Center is a great visit for families during the holiday season.

Newly-updated holiday hours:

December 26: 10-5 p.m.

December 31: 10-5 p.m.

January 2: 10-5 p.m.

December 25: Closed

December 27-30: Closed

January 1: Closed

 

Check out all these events and more below or visit www.chabotspace.org.

FREE TELESCOPE VIEWINGS

Friday and Saturday, 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).

 

VIRTUAL TELESCOPE VIEWINGS

Every 3rd Thursday, 9 p.m.

Join Chabot's resident astronomers on Facebook Live and YouTube from the Observatory Deck! Our astronomers will guide us through spectacular night sky viewing through Nellie, Chabot‘s most powerful telescope. Weather permitting, we will be able to view objects live through the telescopes and astronomers will be available for an open forum for all your most pressing astronomy questions.

 

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER WATCH PARTY

December 13-14, 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. 

$7-15

Join Chabot astronomers on the Observation Deck and be dazzled as we make our annual trip through the Geminids Meteor shower. The Geminids, named for the radiant or location where the shower appears to originate, is one of the best meteor showers to catch this year. The source of the shower is Asteroid 3200 Phaethon, a small asteroid about 3.17 miles (5.10 kilometers) across.

 

PASSING THE BATON FROM HUBBLE TO WEBB, A JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE LAUNCH PARTY

December 1810 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Free with General Admission

The largest space telescope ever made is scheduled to launch soon! This new instrument will unveil invisible mysteries of the universe never before captured in infrared radiation from the early universe and the birth of stars to distant other worlds.

 

ANNUAL BALLOON DROP CELEBRATION

December 31, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Non-members, $10 per child + General Admission 
Members, $10 per child 

Ring in the new year without staying up late! When it’s noon in Oakland, it will be 2022 somewhere on the planet. We’re celebrating the strokes of midnight around the world with multiple balloon drops throughout the day! Continuing a popular Bay Area tradition, our party will feature hundreds of colorful, bio-degradable balloons raining down from above


 
ABOUT CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER 

Chabot Space & Science Center is a non-profit institution, community resource, and hub for interactive STEAM engagement in Oakland. Founded in 1883, Chabot’s mission is to inspire and educate learners of all ages about the Universe and planet Earth.  

Chabot’s hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $24 Adult (12+), $19 Children and Seniors. Free for members and children 2 and under.  

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