About Us

Press Room

Media Contact: Diane Roby, (415) 931-5367
reddroby@earthlink.net
Sunday Onsite Contact: Denni Medlock, (510) 336-7368 

Media Advisory

Chabot Space & Science Center Marks "True Millennium"
Sunday, December 31, 2000, 4 p.m. (Greenwich midnight)

What: Chabot Space & Science Center marks the dawn of the third millennium, as the world turns to January 1, 2001, at midnight Greenwich time (0 hours Universal time; 4 p.m. PST), with musical fanfare and a balloon drop from the second floor of the Rotunda. The countdown takes place to the thundering drama of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra — a score now forever linked to Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

Time zones begin at Greenwich, England — with 0 meridian of longitude — and proceed westward, with Oakland 8 hours "behind" the start of the true astronomical day.

When: Sunday, December 31, 2000. Millennium countdown begins at 3:45 p.m. with music. Balloon drop at 4 p.m. marks "true millennium."

Where: Rotunda, Main Lobby, Spees Building, Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland (in Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills)

Who: Dr. Jose Olivarez, Director of Astronomy, Chabot Space & Science Center

Parking: Media vans park in circular turnaround at front entrance. Convenient visitor-paid parking is available in the adjacent 3-level parking structure or in the Knoll Lot off Skyline Blvd. Parking spaces for disabled visitors are located near the main entrance (outside the parking structure). Designated Disabled Parking is available near the main entrance.

Other Activities

Sunday, December 31 is the LAST DAY to see these current planetarium and domed theater shows: 

• "Ask Jeeves" Planetarium, The Christmas Sky — 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

• Tien MegaDome Theater, Amazing Journeys — 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm

Exhibits include the interactive Planetary Landscapes, Our Place in the Universe, and History of California Astronomy 1850-1950: Observatories, Telescope Makers, and their Instruments. The International Space Station HAB-LAB module, on loan from Boeing, is also on exhibit.

Hours: Sunday, December 31, 2000 — open 12 noon - 5 pm
Tickets: Tickets may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets available on-line at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at (510) 601-TWEB.
Admission: General admission $8.00 / $5.50 seniors and children. 
Additional charge for Ask Jeeves Planetarium and Tien MegaDome Theater.
Phone: (510) 336-7300
Website: www.chabotspace.org

Getting to Chabot Space & Science Center

Public Transportation
A.C. Transit bus line 53 provides direct service to CSSC, from Fruitvale BART station and points between (SPECIAL OFFER: Present AC Transit transfer at door for $5 off general admission).

By Car
From downtown Oakland, or San Francisco: Go east on I 580 to Highway 24 (towards Walnut Creek). From 24, go south on Highway 13 (Warren Freeway) towards Hayward. Take the Joaquin Miller/ Lincoln Avenue exit. Turn left and proceed up the hill on Joaquin Miller to the crest, then turn left at the signal onto the two lane portion of Skyline Blvd. Chabot Space & Science Center is 1.3 miles up Skyline on the right.

From eastern Berkeley, Orinda etc.: Go south on Highway 13 (Warren Freeway) towards Hayward. Take the Joaquin Miller/ Lincoln Avenue exit. Turn left and proceed up the hill on Joaquin Miller to the crest, then turn left at the signal onto the two lane portion of Skyline Blvd. Chabot Space & Science Center is 1.3 miles up Skyline on the right.

From Hayward, Castro Valley and points East: Go west on I 580 and take the Highway 13 (Warren Freeway) turnoff. Take the Joaquin Miller/Lincoln Avenue exit. Turn right, and proceed up the hill on Joaquin Miller to the crest, then turn left at the signal onto the two lane portion of Skyline Blvd. Chabot Space & Science Center is 1.3 miles up Skyline on the right. 

Convenient visitor-paid parking is available in the adjacent 3-level parking structure or in the Knoll Lot off Skyline Blvd. Parking spaces for disabled visitors are located near the main entrance to the facility (outside the parking structure).

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