First Friday: Moving to Mars

Friday, December 2
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
$15 adults, $10 kids/seniors and $5 members

This year, in early December, it will be the best time to view Mars and it is a great time to look forward to NASA’s Mission to Mars. Join NASA and SETI scientist Pascal Lee as they explore the beauty of the Martian landscape and discuss how art has influenced modern spacecraft and rocketry. The event will showcase a 1/4 functional scale model of the Curiosity Mars rover along with fun hands-on activities that will spark your imagination. Delve into some space art making for the whole family and learn things behave differently in the vacuum of space than they do under the influence of a Martian atmosphere. Come experiment with how different materials behave in a real vacuum chamber to understand why atmospheric pressure is so important! Music, beer, wine and food available 

Forget the holiday gingerbread house this season. Stop by our Studio 1 to make an edible Mars rover.  

Planetarium Shows 
MAGICAL, MYTHICAL, MUDDY, MARS! 
(35 min) We’re going to Mars—and you can come with us! Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Mars has sparked the human imagination for millennia, conjuring visions of supernatural deities, extraterrestrial civilizations, and otherworldly landscapes. And now, the detection of water has reenergized our imagination, focusing our attention on the planet next door to Earth in hope of finding unearthly life on the Red Planet. Come and join the greatest exploration in history, to Mars!

First Fridays at Chabot Space & Science Center bring the Oakland community together to play and discover, highlight diverse voices in S.T.E.A.M. and inspire explorers of all ages. 
Chabot’s First Friday opens the doors for discovery with planetarium shows, telescope viewings and after-hours access to exhibits. Embedded in Redwood Regional Park, the Center is a space for our community to get together, learn, and explore in Oakland’s backyard.
First Friday features a new theme supported by community partners, hands-on activities, workshops, performances, and speakers. With different opportunities every month, the possibilities are endless: Talk to an astronaut. Shake hands with a dinosaur. Practice your pitching with the Oakland A’s and more!