Chabot Space & Science Center

Chabot Space & Science Center is a 86,000-square-foot public astronomy museum, planetarium, and research observatory located at 10000 Skyline Boulevard inside Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills of Oakland, California. Founded in 1883 as the Oakland Observatory through a gift from hydraulic engineer and water-system benefactor Anthony Chabot, the institution originally stood in downtown Oakland’s Lafayette Square before moving to Mountain Boulevard in 1915 and opening its current Michael Willis-designed hilltop campus in 2000. Serving as the official home of the NASA Ames Visitor Center, the complex draws families, amateur astronomers, and science enthusiasts for its three giant research-grade telescopes, immersive full-dome planetarium shows, and hands-on aerospace galleries surrounded by coastal redwood groves.

What to Expect at Chabot Space & Science Center

Inside the main complex, exhibition halls bridge historical astronomy and contemporary Silicon Valley aerospace engineering. The centerpiece NASA Ames Visitor Center (The NASA Experience) places guests directly into the role of a NASA research scientist through interactive wind-tunnel challenges, rover testing stations, and real artifacts from Moffett Field’s Ames Research Center, including full-scale lunar rover models, space suits, and aero-thermodynamic heat shields. Nearby, permanent exhibitions such as Going the Distance trace humanity’s journey across the cosmos alongside Soviet and American space capsules, while Astrolight and Shared Sky: Photos of Our Universe examine the physics of light, spectroscopy, and deep-space astrophotography. General admission also includes scheduled daily screenings inside the 241-seat, 70-foot full-dome planetarium powered by a Zeiss Universarium fiber-optic star projector and digital visualization system.

On the outdoor Observation Deck—perched 1,500 feet above sea level along the East Bay ridge—three historic and modern observatory domes house the center’s trio of major telescopes. Daytime visitors can tour the observatory deck and view solar prominences through specialized hydrogen-alpha solar filters, while Friday and Saturday evenings feature free public telescope viewings (weather permitting) where resident astronomers guide guests in observing Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s Galilean moons, binary star systems, and deep-sky nebulae. Between indoor galleries and outdoor deck sessions, families can browse the museum store or relax in the outdoor courtyard overlooking the redwood canopy.

• Three Research-Grade Telescopes (Leah, Rachel, and Nellie): Tour and look through Leah (an 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor built in 1883), Rachel (a 20-inch Warner & Swasey refractor commissioned in 1914, the largest refractor in the western United States regularly open to the public), and Nellie (a 36-inch Cassegrain reflector housed under a rolling-roof observatory).
• The NASA Ames Visitor Center: Step into 30+ hands-on STEAM stations featuring real NASA Ames wind-tunnel blades, lunar exploration hardware, and interactive mission-design challenges.
• 70-Foot Full-Dome Planetarium: Experience live-narrated star talks and immersive digital fulldome films covering black holes, exoplanets, and seasonal Northern California night skies, included with general admission.
• Going the Distance & Astrolight Galleries: Inspect authentic historic spacecraft hardware, meteorite specimens, and interactive optical physics installations explaining how astronomers decode starlight.
• Free Weekend Night Sky Viewings: Join volunteer astronomers and East Bay Astronomical Society members on the Observation Deck every Friday and Saturday night, weather permitting, for direct views through all three observatory domes.

Chabot Space & Science Center at a Glance

Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings

Arrive near the 10:00 AM opening on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday so you can check the daily planetarium schedule at the lobby desk and catch both a morning and afternoon dome show without rushing through the NASA Ames galleries. Driving is the most direct way to reach the hilltop campus via Highway 13 (Warren Freeway) to the Joaquin Miller Road/Lincoln Avenue exit, followed by a scenic climb up Skyline Boulevard; the adjacent three-level parking structure provides free parking steps from the main entrance. Because the Oakland Hills sit at 1,500 feet elevation and catch cool marine air off San Francisco Bay, always pack a warm windproof jacket—even on warm summer days—especially if you plan to attend Friday or Saturday night telescope viewings on the open-air Observation Deck.

The entire museum complex is wheelchair and stroller accessible, featuring step-free automated entryways, wide exhibition corridors, accessible restrooms on every floor, and elevator access connecting all gallery levels, the planetarium theater (which includes designated wheelchair spaces and assistive listening devices), and the outdoor Observation Deck. Pair your visit with a hike right outside the museum gates in Redwood Regional Park, where flat streamside paths like the Stream Trail and ridge routes like the West Ridge Trail wind beneath towering second-growth coast redwoods, or drive five minutes south along Skyline Boulevard to Joaquin Miller Park and the historic Woodminster Amphitheater. For lunch or dinner afterward, head 10 minutes downhill into the Montclair Village neighborhood along Mountain Boulevard for casual cafes, bakeries, and family-friendly restaurants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the operating hours and best times to visit Chabot Space & Science Center?

Chabot Space & Science Center is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and is closed Monday through Thursday. Friday mornings offer the quietest gallery experience, while clear Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM are ideal for free public stargazing through the three historic telescopes.

How much do tickets cost and are planetarium shows included?

General daytime admission is $24 for adults (ages 13–64) and $19 for youth (ages 2–12), seniors (65+), and college students with ID, while children under 2 enter free. Daytime admission includes all permanent exhibits, the NASA Ames Visitor Center, and daily planetarium shows; advance online ticket booking is recommended on weekends, and ASTC Passport Program reciprocal discounts apply.

How much time should I budget for a visit?

Most visitors spend between 2.5 and 4 hours exploring the interactive NASA exhibits, watching one or two 35-minute planetarium shows, and touring the outdoor observatory domes. If you combine your museum ticket with a walk along the adjacent Redwood Regional Park trails, plan for a full half-day excursion in the Oakland Hills.

Is Chabot Space & Science Center accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?

Yes, the entire facility is fully ADA accessible, with level access from the adjacent parking garage, large passenger elevators serving all three levels and the outdoor Observation Deck, and wheelchair seating inside the planetarium dome. Strollers are welcome throughout the galleries, and viewing stools and step-up platforms are provided at the telescope eyepieces.

When planning your Oakland travel guide or comparing verified attractions and museums in Oakland, pair this stop with standout local spots including MAMA Oakland, The Cook and Her Farmer, AC Hotel Oakland Downtown, and Joaquin Miller Park (0.6 km away).