Chabot Space & Science Center | East Bay Area - Oakland CA

A Galaxy Not So Far Away
2026-05-01 18:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
$24 Adults, $19 Kids, FREE for Members
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This Friday, join our team of cosmic rebels to celebrate “May the Fourth” early in our galaxy not so far away! Craft your own glowing sword, get a glimpse of distant planets through our historic 8” refractor telescope known as “Leah,” and discover the mechanics of robotics alongside a familiar sassy android. Then, don’t forget to snap a pic in our Galaxy Photobooth, enjoy a themed cocktail, and discover the fact behind the fiction in your favorite intergalactic fantasy movies. Perfect for fans of all ages, this is one sci-fi inspired adventure you won’t want to miss.

ElectroLaze: Laser Pop
2026-04-26 15:45 - 16:30, 2026-04-19 15:45 - 16:30, 2026-04-12 15:45 - 16:30, 2026-04-05 15:45 - 16:30, 2026-02-22 15:45 - 16:30, 2026-02-15 15:45 - 16:30
30 min, all ages
Pink, N’Sync, Smash Mouth and more!

SPACETIME
2026-04-26 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-19 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-18 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-12 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-11 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-10 14:00 - 15:00 and 7 more dates
12 minutes, all ages.
Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and events at great distances in the universe, and far back in time. Today, a new type of instrument, the “gravity wave telescope”, is giving us the power to “hear” cosmic events beyond the sight of ordinary telescopes. Gravity waves are ripples in spacetime created by events like collisions between black holes, and powerful processes that took place in the earliest times of our universe.
The Dutch Black Hole Consortium is currently building an enormous underground gravity wave detector, called the Einstein Telescope. When completed, this instrument will provide unprecedented insight into the nature of the universe and its origin, allowing scientists to probe cosmic secrets that light waves cannot illuminate.

World's Beyond Earth
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-17 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-10 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-05 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-03 11:00 - 12:00 and 4 more dates
25 minutes
Ages 6 and up
What have 50 years of space exploration taught us about the planets and moons closest to us? With each probe and spacecraft launched into the unknown, scientists discover more about the surprisingly dynamic, active, and varied nature of the worlds that share our solar system, and gain a deeper understanding of the unique conditions that make life on our home planet possible.
Based on authentic scientific data from groundbreaking space missions, Worlds Beyond Earth takes viewers on an exhilarating adventure through our cosmic neighborhood. Immersive visualizations showcase the solar system with unprecedented accuracy, including a landing on the cratered surface of our own Moon, a dramatic flight through the swirling rings of Saturn, and soaring encounters with distant worlds of active volcanoes and buried oceans. This film is narrated by Lupita Nyong’o.

Worlds of Curiosity
2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-19 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-27 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-20 13:00 - 14:00
(15 min) Worlds of Curiosity dives into the questions of “What it would be like to live on an Earth with no Moon?” or “What if the Earth was tilted on its side, like the planet Uranus?”

Phantom of the Universe
2026-04-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-03 13:00 - 14:00
Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt For Dark Matter
25 minutes
Ages 8 and up
An exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bangto its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints ofits existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term “dark matter”. This show is narrated by Tilda Swinton.
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Ohlone Skies (mur taaraxtak)
2026-04-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-05 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-28 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-21 11:00 - 12:00
(40 Min) Developed in partnership and solidarity with Cafe Ohlone, mur taaraxtak, or Ohlone Skies, weaves science and storytelling into a rich tapestry of Indigenous Ohlone knowledge, heritage, and history deeply rooted right here in the Oakland hills.

Starlight Gala
2026-04-25 18:00 - 22:00
Save the Date
Starlight Gala
Transforming curiosity into opportunity

Saturday, April 25, 2026
Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland, California

Join us for an inspiring evening under the stars to benefit Chabot Space & Science Center. Celebrate 25 years of discovery and innovation on Skyline Boulevard and fuel exciting new opportunities for the next generation of explorers.

Formal invitation and event details to follow.
For more information about tickets or sponsorship levels, contact development@chabotspace.org.

We look forward to celebrating with you!
Christine Cowsert Chapman & Jan Chabala
2026 Starlight Gala Co-Chairs

Aurora Storm
2026-04-24 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-17 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-03 16:00 - 17:00
Aurora Storm
11 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Aurora Storm explores the captivating northern lights and how different cultures and explorers have experienced them. Produced by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The show teaches about the causes of the aurorae and how humans who live beneath their shimmering light are inspired by what they see. Quotes from the written journals of past Arctic explorers and indigenous people share stories of how they regarded the aurorae.

C360: The Home Galaxy
2026-04-24 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-17 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-10 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-03 15:00 - 16:00
35 minutes
Ages 8 and up
It’s been called a river in the sky, a tree of life, a celestial spine, and even a spray of mother’s milk, but since Galileo made the telescopic discovery that is made up of countless hosts of stars and mysterious, dark, brooding clouds, we have come to know The Milky Way as our galactic home among the cosmos. Come and explore Via Lactea, The Milky Way, from its sprawling spiral arms to the ultimate heart of darkness-the supermassive black hole that resides at its center.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Waiting Far Away
2026-04-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-28 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-21 16:00 - 17:00
10 minutes
All ages
An explorer of the cosmos has traveled too far…and can’t find home. Become lost on a journey through the majestic, humbling, and solitary beauty of space and time reimagined.
Charles Hayden Planetarium

The Sun: Our Living Star
2026-04-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-28 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:00 and 3 more dates
25 min
Ages 6 and up, Adults
The Sun has shone on our world for four and a half billion years. The light that warms our skin today has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is our nearest star and our planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives our winds, our weather and all life.
The passage of the Sun’s fiery disc across the sky — day by day, month by month — was the only way to keep track of time for countless past civilizations. Don’t be fooled by the terminology; although it is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined.
Discover the secrets of our star in this planetarium show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive fulldome format. Our team has worked with some of the most talented planetarium producers to bring you this visually striking planetarium show about the most important star in our lives.

Tales of the Maya Skies
2026-04-18 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-11 15:00 - 16:00
35 minutes
All ages
Through the magic of technology and imagination, you are about to take a trip across time and space to visit a world as it no longer exists today: the world of the ancient Maya civilization! The great pyramid and other stone observatories and structures in the ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula have been laser-scanned and recreated digitally to enable your journey. You will see Chichen Itza perhaps as it looked a thousand years ago when the Maya civilization of the ancient world was at its peak. You will also learn about Maya culture’s advanced understanding of space, time, and mathematics that allowed them to understand the world as few ancient cultures have.
Chabot Space & Science Center

Einstein's Gravity Playlist
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-11 14:00 - 15:00
23 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Einstein’s Gravity Playlist is an original planetarium show that explores the ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves. Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916, and a century later, scientists detected these waves using incredibly precise laser technology here on Earth. In this show, viewers follow Lucia, a PhD student in physics, on an exploration of how gravitational waves are formed, how they move through the universe, and how scientists like her work to hear them.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Lunaverse
2026-04-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-21 14:00 - 15:00
16 minutes
All ages
“Lunaverse” explores the nature of Earth’s moon: its motion and phases, lunar and solar eclipses, tides, and the Moon’s origin. The story unfolds as a conversation between a curious young child and the Moon—Luna—over the course of a night, from moonrise to moonset.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
2026-04-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-27 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-20 15:00 - 16:00
(30 min) 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI is a full dome film about the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) which is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe using a unique instrument which can measure the spectra of many galaxies at once. Experience the largest structures in the universe as never seen before by flying through a portion of DESI’s initial data. Dive into modern cosmology, plus the scientific background and motivation for building a Fiske Planetarium large map of galaxies. And, take a trip to Kitt Peak to see footage of the telescope in action while getting to know the amazing people from all over the world making this research possible

Paint & Sip: Alien Flora
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30
Alien Flora
Painting Plants Beyond Earth
Adults 21+ $45, Members get $10 off per ticket

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Join us for an astronomically fun evening at Chabot Space & Science Center’s Paint & Sip Series! This instructor-guided painting workshop features a variety of space-themed designs, from mythic wonders to celestial phenomena. Your ticket includes two drink tickets for wine or beer, along with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Whether you’re with friends, a special someone, or flying solo this 21+ event is the perfect way to relax, sip, nibble, and create a starry masterpiece.

What might plant life look like on other planets? In this Paint & Sip workshop, guests will explore speculative botany inspired by real astronomy and planetary science. Participants will imagine how different stars and environments, from bright, high-energy systems to cooler, dimmer suns, could shape plant color, form, and adaptation. Guided step by step, this relaxed and creative experience is welcome to all skill levels.

For questions or help with ticketing, contact us at GroupSales@chabotspace.org

Family Astronomy: Invisible Astronomy
2026-04-10 18:00 - 20:00
Family Astronomy: Invisible Astronomy
$15 Youth, $25 Adults
Members get $5 off per ticket
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Chabot Space & Science Center’s Family Astronomy Series invites families with children ages 6–12 to explore the wonders of the universe together! Each evening program features an engaging presentation in Chabot’s Planetarium followed by hands-on activities and opportunities to make discoveries together. Each event includes complimentary hot cocoa and snacks.

Delve beyond the visible and uncover the fascinating science of invisible astronomy! Families will explore the electromagnetic spectrum and discover how astronomers use radio waves, infrared, and ultraviolet light to reveal the hidden wonders of the cosmos. What do radio signals tell us about the Big Bang? How does infrared light let us glimpse ancient galaxies?

Through hands-on experiments and demonstrations, participants will investigate how these invisible forms of light help us see the universe in entirely new ways.

Warm up with hot cocoa and cookies before heading out to the Observatory for telescope viewing (weather permitting). End the evening by using the most powerful tools of all, your own eyes, to take in the visible light streaming to us from distant stars.

Robo Expo @ Chabot
2026-03-28 10:00 - 17:00
$24 Adults, $19 Kids, FREE for Members
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Martian rovers. Driverless cars. Huggable food delivery bots. Whether assisting in data collection on faraway planets, zooming through city streets, or vacuuming kitchen floors, autonomous robotics have become a regular part of life here in our part of the galaxy.
Join Chabot Saturday, March 28th, for a fun, hands-on exploration of robotics, featuring OUSD’s annual Robotics Club Competition and opportunities to build your own functional bots with wires, circuits and Legos! Discover how rovers & robots help humans make scientific discoveries out in space, tinker with tech, and get up close & personal with real aerospace robots on display in our NASA Ames Visitor Center. You may even see some familiar androids roaming the exhibits!

Astrophotography 101: Intro to Astrophotography with a Tracker
2026-03-26 19:00 - 22:00
Astrophotography 101: Introduction to Astrophotography with a Tracker
$75, $60 for Members
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Photo credit: Mason Hall
Want to learn to start taking pictures of the Milky Way or even a faint nebula in the night sky? Ever wanted to learn how the amazing images from James Webb or Hubble telescopes are made? Whether you have specific questions about your own astrophotography process or are completely new to night photography – this workshop will provide one-on-one training to help you in your night sky photography journey!

Photo credit: Mason Hall
In this workshop, we will focus specifically on using a sky tracker to capture a variety of night sky photos. A sky tracker is a specialty device astrophotographers use to keep the night sky in focus while taking long exposure photos. It is a lower cost item in comparison to larger astronomy mounts and a perfect place to start your astrophotography journey, (especially if you already own a camera with an interchangeable lens). With different types of sky trackers provided, we will walk you through different techniques of capturing the night sky outside on our Observation Deck. Then we will work with specific software to process a finished photo. Feel free to bring your own equipment or images to process.

You will also be trained on how to operate astronomy gear that you can rent through the East Bay Astronomical Society’s Loaner Scope Program all while gaining introductory knowledge on how to get started capturing your own images of the night sky.

This workshop is part of a 3-part series of introductory astrophotography 101 workshops that can be taken together or independently. Workshops will have a combination of classroom time and time outside taking pictures of the night sky. All equipment and laptops are provided.

Taking this workshop supports Chabot and our mission to make STEM accessible for all. Proceeds go towards developing new exhibits, GE program, preservation of historic telescopes, and so much more!

Sci-Fi Night: Alien | Second Showing
2026-03-19 19:30 - 22:00
Doors: 7:30pm, Movie: 8pm
$15 Adults (18+), $5 for Members
Additional seats now available! Book your ticket below to experience The Fifth Element with us. Please note that these seats will be in our Theater space, as Planetarium seats are SOLD OUT.

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It’s Sci-Fi Night at Chabot! Bring a friend and come up to Chabot for a one-night-only screening of cult classic Alien (1979) in our state-of-the-art 70-foot Planetarium dome! Plus enjoy light bites & themed cocktails in this fun, after-hours date night under the stars. Plus, check out our NASA Ames Visitor Center, open late just for this event!

Please note that this event takes place in the Spees building only. The Dellums building, including the Co-Lab exhibit hall, will be closed to the public.

Sci-Fi Night: Alien
2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:30
Doors: 7:00pm, Movie: 7:30pm
$15 Adults (18+), $5 for Members

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It’s Sci-Fi Night at Chabot! Bring a friend and come up to Chabot for a one-night-only screening of cult classic Alien (1979) in our state-of-the-art 70-foot Planetarium dome! Plus enjoy light bites & themed cocktails in this fun, after-hours date night under the stars. Plus, check out our NASA Ames Visitor Center, open late just for this event!

Please note that this event takes place in the Spees building only. The Dellums building, including the Co-Lab exhibit hall, will be closed to the public.

Total Lunar Eclipse Watch Party
2026-03-03 02:00 - 05:00
$15 Adults, $7 Kids, Free for Members

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Join Chabot astronomers for a live watch party of the magnificent Total Lunar Eclipse from Chabot’s Observation Deck. Bring your friends & family and a lawn chair to enjoy Eclipse-themed crafts and demonstrations, then get bundled up with a cup of hot cocoa to watch this stunning celestial show. During the peak of the Eclipse, The Moon will become totally engulfed in Earth’s dark umbral shadow, turning stunning shades of orange and red as the twilight glow of sunlight slips around the edges of Earth’s atmosphere and shines onto the Moon’s face.

In case of fog or rain, all programming will be moved inside & a livestream of the eclipse from a clear skies location will be streamed in our 70-foot full-dome Planetarium.

Universal
2026-02-27 16:00 - 17:00
Universal
12 minutes
All ages
Fly through the heart of an ancient cluster of stars, and take a swing around the luminous remains of a dying star. Cruise by alien planets that orbit a nearby star, surf past the brilliant rings of Saturn, and more. ‘Universal’ is a quick un-narrated voyage through the universe that carries the viewer from the vast realm of intergalactic space to several stellar wonders of the Milky Way Galaxy through an intriguing and nearby extraterrestrial planetary system, and onward to home, to Earth. This show’s dialogue is all textual and is preferred for those hard of hearing.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Astrophotography 101: Intro to Milky Way Astrophotography
2026-02-26 19:00 - 22:00
Photo credit: Tara Mostofi

Astrophotography 101 Workshop: Introduction to Milky Way Astrophotography
$75, $60 for Members
Buy Tickets

Want to learn how to take pictures of the Milky Way? Ever wanted to learn how amazing starry night landscape images are made? Whether you have specific questions about your own astrophotography process, or you are completely new to night photography, this workshop will provide one-on-one training to help you on your journey in taking your own night sky photography.

In this workshop, we will focus specifically on Milky Way photography using a dslr (or mirrorless) camera. Using equipment provided by Chabot, we will walk you through different techniques of capturing the night sky outside on our observation deck and work with specific software to process a finished photo. Feel free to bring your own equipment or images to process.

You will be trained on how to operate astronomy gear that you can rent through the East Bay Astronomical Society’s Loaner Scope Program and gain introductory knowledge of how to get started capturing images of the night sky.

Photo credit: Mason Hall
This workshop is part of a 3-part series of introductory astrophotography 101 workshops that can be taken together or independently. Workshops will have a combination of classroom time and time outside taking pictures of the night sky. All equipment and laptops are provided.

Taking this workshop supports Chabot and our mission to make STEM accessible for all. Proceeds go towards developing new exhibits, GE program, preservation of historic telescopes, and so much more!

From Earth to the Universe
2026-02-22 14:00 - 15:00
32 minutes
Ages 8 and up The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience from Earth to the Universe.

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage
2026-02-20 11:00 - 12:00
(25 min) Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth? The new, Bell original planetarium show Mars: The Ultimate Voyage, explores these questions and more. Ages 8 and up.
The work for the original planetarium production was funded by a NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) Award 80NSSC20M0028 to the Bell Museum through the Regents of the University of Minnesota.
