My little family came here for a first visit on the Saturday of the long Memorial Day weekend, and it was a delightful and eye-opening experience. TBH, my expectation were kind of high because just the month before, we had visited a planetarium in Arizona that just blew my mind and was so cool (will write a review on that one soon) so I think my review of this Space & Science Center might be a little more serious, ha! To be fair, this is not a planetarium, although there is one here, which is used to show short featured films about different space exploration and nature-based stories which we did watch 3 of and they were really good. However, as a Space & Science Center, the focus is on space exploration by NASA and the science behind it. Specifically, the NASA Ames Research Visitor Center is located here. This place is ok for little kids, but probably better for those about 7-8 or older as they'll actually remember and get something out of this Science Center. When you enter, there's a little gift shop to the right, then you will purchase your tickets (which can be applied towards membership should you decide to buy an annual one) and enter into the exhibit hall on the first floor. From there, the planetarium/theatre is to your right and there's shows to watch every hour on the hour, some of them are a half-hour long, and some are only about 15 minutes or so. Different topics/titles and they do not repeat, so it is best to get to this Space & Science Center by mid-morning and plan to stay the whole day. Next there's a NASA visitor center with exhibits of actual space suits, lots of pictures of historic and current/recent space endeavors and journeys, as well as posters explaining how NASA developed the technology to take us to the moon and different parts of the universe. There are also interesting autobiographical posters written by astronauts and other space scientists on their roles in space exploration. There are a few hands-on activities such as using Kinetic sand, and other low-level simple engineering type of fun experiences for younger kids. Finally, there's also a cafeteria on the first floor towards the back of the building. Prices are a little high, but expectedly so for a museum/science center type of venue. On the second floor, there's several classrooms, and then there are some exhibits from retired space vehicles such as a real module you can climb in and play with that still has all the (non-functioning, obviously) controls. My kids had a great time with that. There were even a dog-space-vehicle/container thing, and lots of smaller spacecrafts and many space suits and miniature replicas of space shuttles on display. Finally, on the top floor, there's the observatory with several huge rooms that contained one telescope each for viewing real stars and planets, although they were all hard to see during daytime and realistically, they're all so far, you can only see like a speck of light when viewing Venus, for example, or the star Betelgeuse. But since it's outdoors, you find yourself surrounding by the redwoods out in nature, and it is just so peaceful and beautiful. I imagine when it gets even warmer later on in the summer, at night, that the night sky would be spectacular here. Overall, we really enjoyed coming to Chabot Space & Science Center. It has something for everyone and my kids, my husband, and I all enjoyed it. It's a cool place to feel the vastness of our universe and the greatness of our Creator, and to appreciate that humans have made some pretty cool strides in exploring and discovering our galaxy and yet we've only just scratch the surface. We'll plan to come back, but may try to visit other similar space centers first. read more

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My wife loves to find educational opportunities for our family outings. We came on a Saturday, and it was a pretty cool experience. At the entrance, there's a little gift shop to the right, before the ticket counter (pretty steep) and then the exhibit hall is on the first floor. Since this is a Space & Science Center so it's not technically a planetarium, but there is one here where they show short featured films about nature and space exploration. We watched 3 of them, and they were all pretty well done. So this said planetarium/theatre is on the first floor too, and the shows are every hour on the hour, some of them are a half-hour long, and some are only about 15 minutes or so. Different topics/titles and they do not repeat, so it is best to get to this Space & Science Center by mid-morning and plan to stay the whole day. The focus of this Space & Science Center is about space exploration by NASA and the science behind it. In fact, the NASA Ames Research Visitor Center is housed here. My kids are both older now and they definitely got some learning out of this NASA center, which if they were younger, would be too hard for them to understand. There's exhibits of space suits, pictures of historic and current space endeavors, and displays explaining how NASA developed the technology to take us to the moon and other parts of the universe. There are also interesting autobiographical posters written by astronauts and other space scientists on their roles in space exploration. Further back on the first floor, there are a few hands-on activities such as using kinetic sand, and other simple engineering experiences made into fun for younger kids. There's also a cafeteria on this floor towards the back of the building. Prices are a little high, but expectedly so for a museum/science center type of venue. The second floor houses several classrooms, and then there are some exhibits from retired space vehicles such as a real module you can climb in and play with that still has all the (non-functioning, obviously) controls. My kids had a great time with that. There were even a dog-space-vehicle/container thing, and lots of smaller spacecrafts and many space suits and miniature replicas of space shuttles on display. On the top floor, it's basically an open area/observatory with several huge rooms that houses one telescope in each for viewing stars and planets. They were hard to see in daytime and are so far, you can only see like a speck of light when viewing a planet. I "saw" Venus, but it was just a dot, or for example, I "saw" Betelgeuse the star, haha. This beautiful space is surrounding by the redwoods, so it was a nice area and so peaceful. Later on in the summer, when it gets warmer, I think the night sky would be spectacular here and real nice out even when it gets totally dark. We enjoyed our visit to Chabot Space & Science Center. It has interesting things that should provide something for everyone and we all enjoyed it. I felt the vastness of our universe and the greatness of our Creator, appreciated that us humans have made some significant strides learning about and exploring our galaxy, but there's still so much more we don't know and much more we have to go. My attempt at a deep thought, haha. read more

I've been to the Chabot space and science center twice this year. Once with my students and once with my family. Both experiences were great and we maximized our visit by planning carefully. There are presentations, movies, and labs that kids can participate in and they're all scheduled. You have to be aware of the daily schedule and plan accordingly. We were able to make a rubber ball and see elephant toothpaste! We also hiked up to the top floor and saw mercury through the telescope. This is another place that a membership would be beneficial if you're coming more than once a year. Parking is a bit tricky as the garage can fill up quickly. The garage is open to everyone hiking around the area, so it's not necessarily an indicator of the museum's attendance. read more

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Cute planetarium, it has two buildings, it is great for families, they have a lot of activities for children. The adult entrance is $24 and includes parking. They have a cafeteria inside too in case you get hungry . The staff are very friendly. And they open in the summer Friday and Saturday from 7-10 pm if you wanna come by to see the stars & planets, we were able to see mars during the day. read more

Chabot Space & Science Center - Museums Near Me - Oakland, California

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It was extremely boring! Big for nothing! Just a bunch of kids asking if you want to see project station. No of us had a good time. Won't be back! Only cool thing was the camera. read more

Chabot Space & Science Center - P - Museums Near Me - Oakland, California

Our grandson is so fascinated with space and science that their parents celebrated his Bday at Chabot Space and Science. You have to drive up the hills of Oakland and once you get to the place, they have a parking structure to park. You have to pay a fee to enter and give discounts to children. We saw a lot of kids with their parents when we arrived. This place is good for children to have a first-hand experience with space exploration. You'll be amazed by their collection of spacesuits worn by famous astronauts. They also have several children's space activities and other educational facts about space. At the end of the building housed a couple of 19th-century telescopes that are still functional. This is a good educational experience for young children and helps them explore the science of space read more

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Kids had fun. But be warned, If you come for a field trip there will be absolutely NO food AT ALL to purchase. The cafe is only open weekends. There was plenty of space for picnic and eating, but Make sure you pack plenty of food from home. I packed light and hoped to be able to get a few things from the cafe, only to find there was nothing, not even a vending machine or any snack in the gift shop. read more

Sadly Disappointing. Hadn't been here since I was a kid. But, sadly it seemed like it wasn't updated since. It was very low budget with very little to see or explore. The observation center is closed during the hours of the museum. Coolest thing was being able to build your own rocket out of paper and set it off. Surprisingly, they fly pretty high. Not worth your time or money to come read more

Came here during their Pride Night event and had to say they went all out! It was my first time here and I thought there were a lot of cool things to look at/learn about and a good amount of interactive things to do there. My highlight of the trip had to be talking to and learning from the volunteers hanging out in the telescopes. They shared so much knowledge and it was great to see how passionate they were about space and science! It really made us want to come back and visit another time when the sky is more clear. read more

So we went for a date night on a First Friday. There was plenty of parking, but we got there at 6:30pm. It was only $10 to enter and we got to see the current night sky and learn about the constellations in the Planetarium. We got to see all of the exhibits. They also had great hands on activities in each lab. There was a folk singer playing live music. And they offered wine and craft beer. Lastly, once it got dark we got to see the moon and also Jupiter through the telescopes in the observatories. We were there for almost 3 hours. It was a great night. I can't believe I'm a native to the Bay and this was my first visit. Shame on me. I will be back! read more

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First Friday at the Space Center was fantastic! This was my first time going to the Chabot Space Center for this event. I have been to the Space Center before and that was quite some time ago. The music was wonderful and the center was very different attending without children. My children are now grown so I am able to appreciate these things without them. Wow, it's crazy how much you miss when you are trying to reel your kids in while going through the center. They were offering spirit tastings, there were many opportunities for photos and hands on with the space sand. Because there were few distractions, I was able to take my time and read through the history and descriptions of each display. So much more to learn. We spent some time outside enjoying beverages and listening to music. What a nice evening and joyful time with friends. Until next time. read more

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Fabulous First Friday! The teen and I headed to the town for some hands on out of this world high in the sky stuff. Got there early because that's how we roll, and were able to enjoy a couple of the exhibits. Started off with the planetarium show, look through a couple of telescopes, made some key chains, spoke to a few robots, and listen to some tunes. It wasn't too crowded, which was great, and all the volunteers and staff are awesome . Of course we'll be back. We love this place. read more

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I brought my toddler here on a cold rainy December day. It was nice to have her leave the home, but the toddler area was closed for the sock skate. We enjoyed running around the museum, but it's definitely not geared for younger toddlers. read more

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I went to the observatories on Friday with my friends for the free telescope viewings. Overall it was great, but I wanted to take a picture on my phone of Jupiter from the lens, and Gerald was a straight asshole and yelled at me saying "don't take pictures there's people in line". There was a guy who they let take pictures from his phone through the lens with no problem. Gearld was so rude. Dude had a stick up his ass. I was with my friend and they didn't care that I wanted to take a picture on my phone. I was excited to come and he lowkey ruined the rest of the night for me. He needs to be checked. read more

I went specifically on one of their First Friday events and really enjoyed it! The interactive exhibits widen your brain and are great for families, but my favorite parts were the planetarium shows. I enjoyed the first one so much that I stayed late to see a second one. It's truly a magical experience, and I learned so much too! There were free telescope viewings in the evening, so I got to see Saturn, but the lines were quite long (30 minute waits to peer into the telescope for a few seconds). Overall I spent about 2 hours in total and didn't even partake in every activity since some were geared more toward the little ones. read more

It's a dump! Clearly Oakland doesn't put money into this "Space and Science" center. There is one cool exhibit. It's the flash photography that captures your shadow. There are some interesting facts to read about old space equipment used several years ago. Other than that, it lacks enough interactive things to do. The few they did have were broken. They need fundraisers and donations to rebuild. It's a shame because it's in a beautiful area. read more

My son and I visited the museum earlier today. It was our first time ever going as he was gifted a day pass to use so today was the day. Getting there was a beautiful scenic drive and once we got there it just looked so majestic amidst the trees and hills. The staff was very friendly, the exhibits were so interesting and we just enjoyed all of them. We did get to see one of the planetarium shows which was really neat. The best part was being able to look through one of the telescopes and we got to see Jupiter! The staff person at the telescope was so friendly and helpful and educational, that experience really topped the day off! It was our first time but not the last. I'm considering membership options, and I highly recommend for anyone to visit and explore and appreciate all the space exploration done and in the works. read more

Not a lot to do for the price. They charge a lot for kids over age 2 and there is virtually nothing for kids that age. Staff not very friendly. The only staff that is very nice is the lady that does the science show. Food has gone downhill. read more

I will be finishing my last posts now on Yelp.com. My name is Denise C. I came to San Francisco at a tender age and waited a long time to go out to Chabot Space center. It says it is a NASA visitor center..the man Chabot lived here and ran the observatory and telescope station..telescope and I watched a show at the planetarium. It was fascinating visit...the building must have had research and today I saw kids and parents..it's good on the weekend but I wish that people would greet people and spend more time together..better communities thrive..it's been a long time and this is a job. read more

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I just left the Chabot space and science center for the "Alan Watts:Trust the universe" dome show. The show itself was great. The employees at this facility really need to get it together. Not only are they extremely rude, but during this meditative experience, there was a heckler in the audience. The staff did not remove this individual who was killing the show for about 100 people in the 360 degree dome. Overall very poor experience for my first time there and don't see myself returning ever again. Very disappointing. read more

We took our grandkids (5 and 8) to Chabot yesterday for a few hours and had a great time. For me, the highlight was looking through their 8" and 20" telescopes. Even in full daylight we were able to see Jupiter (in the 8") and Venus (in the 20"). The Beatles laser light show in the planetarium felt pretty dated, and the sound was up so high that it was distorted (and uncomfortable). I think the animated parts of it were fun, but too much of a good thing (psychedelic spirals and tunnels) weren't as special. The third floor interactive displays were the most popular for our grandkids... racing magnetic cars down a track, creating marble runs on a wall, simulations of planetary atmosphere. I personally liked inspecting a Russian escape space capsule. We're going to go back some Friday/Saturday night when the telescopes are open for free public viewing of the night sky. That should be fun. read more

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The drive up to Chabot is beautiful, great views. Nice parking structure as well. The facility is just beautiful as well. With Planetarium - hourly shows, I like how they specify the age ranges so we could choose the shows appropriate for our 6 year old. Exhibits - some real sized rockets which were cool to me. The Sputnik module was cool and being able to get into a Mercury module was really cool Interactive exhibits -the build your own rocket was really cool, the kids were assisted by volunteers to make a paper rocket and the volunteers helped them launch them. The paper plane wind tunnel was cool but the volunteer was attaching the paper planes at the wrong end, I saw the instructions and clipped it on the nose side and it worked well. The kids had the most fun at the "fashion" area where they dress mannequins/busts in different fabrics based on their properties to protect the astronaut from different conditions. Next to that is an earthquake table where they could build a block structure and shake it as well "rover" building area. Outside of that were the telescopes which were pretty cool to see though we could only look through the smallest one. The cafe was mostly light snacks and stuff but they had some small pre-packaged salads and eggs (stuff you could buy at Costco). They also had like pre-packaged max n cheese and ramen. Not too expensive in my opinion though I was still hungry. Overall it's a really nice facility with not a ton of exhibits but they are still well done. Probably 3+ hours if you're taking your time. A speed run would be 1-2 hrs depending on the planetarium show. read more

Had an unexpected day off and decided to expand my mind so to speak. Where better than something in my own backyard? Did you ever have one of those moments where you think to yourself: "for God's sake, I live in the freakin Bay Area--People come from all over the world to this place to check out it's wonderful gems. So doing a minute or two of research, I decided to go to the Space Center--it is so cool! Pretty low-key, really great information and a fun planetarium show. I went in the daytime and was surprised to find a very good café, serving Mr Espresso coffee drinks and snacks. Super interesting displays about space. I highly recommend bringing the kiddos or just yourself to have a nice relaxing and informative afternoon. Was impressed to find the space suit from the first black woman who went into space And all the displays are bilingual. The planetarium show before the one I went to, was all in Spanish. It's a super inclusive place without being in yo face about it. Good job, Chabot Space & Science Center- I feel smarter having visited you! read more

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Chabot Space & Science Center didn't quite live up to expectations. Although it is a nice place to go for a few hours. There's a Colab area where the young kids can have more hands on activities. We went to a science experiment performance which was interesting. However, the telescopes were not open and besides that there wasn't much to see in each floor. It's in a beautiful part of the Oakland hills. read more

I attended the adult only Slumber with the Stars event, yesterday and left what mixed emotions. The check-in process was very quick and easy but it wasn't clearly communicated when and where the cocktail reception would happen and that our gear would just be sitting along the wall until it was time to turn in. The cocktail reception came with the science project, which I expected. The drink options were beer or wine and there was a small cheese and meat platter for the group to share. Dinner consisted of four salad options. I overheard other guests commenting they expected something more substantial and thought the salads were just the starters. Despite it being extremely overcast and preventing the use of the telescopes, the night activities were delightful. Guest astrologists guiding us through the sky, we created our own bath salts and then had two shows in the planetarium, followed by dessert. Since it was chilly I opted to sleep inside while others camped outdoors. Cots were provided and had the option to sleep anywhere within the building. Bright and early the next morning started with guided yoga on the observatory deck followed by breakfast that consisted of bagels, cream cheese, coffee and orange juice. There was a final show in the planetarium and then we were given the option to explore the center or head out. Overall I'm happy I tried this experience, and met some wonderful people in the process. read more

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Great interactive museum with lovely trees surrounding and free night viewing The Chabot space and science museum got a NASA renovation during COVID and is now open again with limited hours The interactive nature of the museum makes it a must- do with kids. We went with college children and they still enjoyed it There is a small indoor eating area with limited items for sale. You could bring your own provisions as well. Outdoor seating is ample and beautiful on several levels Movies here are NO extra charge. You can come watch all of them ( about 6-8) with your admission purchase Night viewing when weather allows is free!! Bathrooms are clean and accessible. 2 gender neutral restrooms are on the second floor main circle. Climb in a space capsule, build gadgets, learn science. It's a great museum. read more

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This is my favorite science center in the SF Bay Area. I especially love the phosphorescing light-absorbing wall/room that's hidden behind a curtain on the 2nd floor. And I love the telescope viewings. The volunteer telescope operators love to teach, and teach the public well (not too much jargon, and just the right amount of detail to understand a topic at any age). It's so cool to get to see stars in the daytime, as well as Venus, the moon with its craters, solar eclipses using a solar filter, as well as other special events at different times of the year. I believe Jupiter and Saturn are best viewed during the Fall season. I also love the meteor shower events and the helpful presentations that provide tips on how to enjoy viewing these better. I love that there's also ample free parking so it's easy to visit. read more

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My 6 1/2 yr old loved this place! He didn't want to leave. He loves space and this place was everything. It's basically a NASA museum that inspires the process of scientific discovery by showcasing hands on exhibitions. What i really appreciated is that the science demonstrations and activities are led by teens. I feel like the thought of working for NASA seems more attainable to children when they see teens showing them things they think is brilliant. There is a awesome full-dome planetarium. They have showings every hour, on the hour. Show schedules do vary day to day. We had the pleasure of seeing Forward To The Moon. Shows range from 10min - 35min, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. read more

Chabot Space & Science Center - Museums Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went here on a Sunday with my family and genuinely enjoyed our time watching the various films and experiments in the room. I love that they are encouraging young kids of diverse backgrounds into STEM. For those with Cal Fresh, you can get General Admission for $2 for up to 4 people. Just show them your EBT card and ID. Highly recommend for family fun and learning. read more

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This review is for Samantha who helps with the venue rentals. I was helping my family quickly find a space to hold a memorial for someone in our family who passed suddenly and Samantha was really easy to work with. She was extremely responsive, accommodating and understanding based on the tough time we're all going through right now. We ended up not booking here, but I just wanted to highlight her kindness and overall great customer service. If this was just the process of a potential event reservation, I can only imagine how great an event planning process and execution can go. Thanks again Samantha for your help. I greatly appreciate it. read more

I had high hopes when we walked into the beautiful multi-million dollar building, but despite the nice exterior, Chabot did not deliver the goods. Chabot's planetarium show was a bad-science/sociology movie, that only a second-grader would not be insulted by. I felt embarrassed that it was even considered science worthy. Most exhibits were photos with poorly worded descriptions. I felt sad to see the rotting space suits on display. (Perhaps NASA was cleaning out its storage room.) They had a 3 or 4 foot 3D model of our moon, but no labels to verify that it was our moon. There were only a few hands on exhibits including the cut out of an astronaut suit for us to pose behind for photos. The only redeeming attraction for me was the telescope. (I'd recommend that school groups make an advance appointment for a lab experience, and please preview the planetarium show for quality.) read more

Awesome place in general, highly recommend checking it out. Nighttime telescope viewing is great.

I'm torn because I feel that as a museum, the Chabot Space & Science Center is not great, but as a venue for special events, it's fantastic. I, along with everyone else, love the free Friday and Saturday night telescope viewings. It was tricky to find the first time, and we ended up wandering into a pretty cool robotics lab. The staff who work the telescope viewings are so kind and clearly passionate about space, which was great to pump up my nephew and the other children in attendance. I haven't had a chance to attend other special nights such as the wine and hike (forget what it's actually called) or sleepovers, but I appreciate how creative they are about getting people to come up to the Space Center. When I went to the actual museum with my best friend, we were both disappointed by the limited exhibitions and activities. Part of one floor was closed entirely. We finished viewing everything - without rushing - in just over an hour. I didn't realize that seemingly half of the building is dedicated to classroom/research space. Unless you have a child who is obsessed with space (like my nephew, the aspiring astronaut), I don't think there's enough substance here to sustain the attention of an adult. read more

It's cool that we have something like this in the bay area, but I have some mixed feelings since we were able to get through the center and gift shop in about an hour and a half. First off, this is located in the Oakland hills, so the drive up the hill and through the trees was beautiful. There is also a great view of Oakland and the bay on the way up. Parking in the structure/garage is free and entry for adults is $24. Make sure you check the planetarium's schedule in advance of your visit - we were able to catch the last one of the day. Lunaverse was a 15-minute show that was a creative and engaging way to teach people about the moon. It was my favorite part of this trip. There were some some cool replicas of space shuttle stuff and hands-on learning activities. A volunteer taught us how to identify meteorites vs. Earth rocks, which I enjoyed. We were also able to use the Leah telescope (the 8" one) to see Venus. It was only a white speck on the telescope lens, but still cool nonetheless. I was disappointed, however, that the other two telescopes in the observatories were closed that day. If I lived in the bay area, I would probably come back for the free telescope viewings that take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. But I probably won't be back anytime soon since I live in Sacramento. If you have young children, you may have a more fulfilling experience at the space center...there were many hands-on activities that we skipped since they were meant for children. read more

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What a wonderful family day! We saw two shows in the planetarium, participated in several experiments, ate a delicious lunch and had free parking. We arrived just after noon, found easy, free and close parking all after a beautiful drive up the hills to Skyline. They weren't too crowded and that was nice. We got excellent seats in the planetarium and watched a movie about dark matter. Super interesting. Next, we toured around, participated in several experiments and then grabbed lunch. My young friend then requested another movie in the planetarium--this one was about the Beatles--kind of cool. We had a great day, learned a lot and had fun outdoors around the Space Center. We will be back for sure. read more

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Absolute gem in the Oakland hills. Do these things and you'll have a happy time. Drive with your windows down and take in whiffs of the pines. Visit on a Sunday and arrive right at opening 10am. Low crowds. Lots of space to roam. Park smart. Pull in backwards so you'll be able to see little kiddos running excitedly through the parking lot towards the building. Pack a lunch and snacks. Little guests get too excited to eat. Have food handy to refuel. Stop by various tables set up and do fun, free activities. Kids can learn about pH levels, constellations, vacuums, etc. You may even leave with a handmade souvenir. Pay attention to the Planetarium showtimes. It's an amazing experience. Visuals and sounds all on point. Stop by the gift shop for astronaut ice cream! Bathrooms are clean! Wash your hands. There's lots to touch here. read more

I wish they have the solar system room back, the one with all the planets. This is a great place for the kids. Phantom of the Universe was pretty good, felt like I was on a fun 3D ride at Disneyland. read more

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This is the best planetarium that I've been. Is a such privilege have places like this around us for our kids and community. Very knowledgeable, needs to be visit at least once! read more

Chabot Space & Science Center - Museums Near Me - Oakland, California

Went here for an event and the structure with the layout of this place, is quite galactic. It's an exhibit and it's good to stroll what this place is all about! It reminded me of a spaceship when perusing through! Parking is adequate in the parking lot and it took some time worth the uphill to get here! read more

Chabot Space & Science Center - Museums Near Me - Oakland, California

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Chabot is amazing! Come to the science center with your kids or to star gazing nights with your sweetheart (check the website first for humidity levels - they won't open the roofs over a certain level) and enjoy the view and the knowledge you're getting. A shout out to all the volunteers who make the free telescope viewings on Fridays and Saturdays so amazing!!!! read more