There is free parking right nearby the entrance to the space center.
Parking lot Museum entrance
Admission includes entrance to the space center, one theatre show and one planetarium show. There is a choice of multiple shows at different times during the day with some shows geared more for children than adults. There is some food at the center but it is more snack food than a real meal, so bring some healthy snacks or pack a lunch if you plan on going during a meal time.
The first exhibit we ventured to was “Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space” that describes the living conditions of an astronaut. This includes how they exercise, what they eat and the tools they need to use under the no gravity conditions. The exhibit highlighted space toilets whose waste is actually recycled to provide a water supply to the astronauts!
Space toilet
and examples of astronaut food.
Astronaut food
In space, food needs to last without refrigeration and needs not to require cooking. You have to eat very carefully since the food drifts away.
There is a real Soyuz Descent Module on site. This is a spacecraft used as transport to and from the International Space Station. What is amazing is how close quarters the astronauts share in this transport vehice. The International Space Station maintains docked Soyuz spacecraft at all times to be used as escape craft in the event of an emergency.
Soyuz Descent Module
You go outside and take a boardwalk path to get to Chabot’s two observatories. On Saturday and Sundays during the day, they are open to the public from noon to 5pm. You can observe the sun, moon or Venus with the help of volunteers. You can get a free digital picture taken of you with the 20 inch Rachel telescope.
20 inch Rachel telescope
The smaller 8 inch Alvan Clark telescope is shown below from two different angles (see below).
The best time to view is in the evening every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 pm (weather permitting).
Full Review: Chabot Space and Science Center
There is free parking right nearby the entrance to the space center.
Parking lot Museum entrance
Admission includes entrance to the space center, one theatre show and one planetarium show. There is a choice of multiple shows at different times during the day with some shows geared more for children than adults. There is some food at the center but it is more snack food than a real meal, so bring some healthy snacks or pack a lunch if you plan on going during a meal time.
The first exhibit we ventured to was “Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space” that describes the living conditions of an astronaut. This includes how they exercise, what they eat and the tools they need to use under the no gravity conditions. The exhibit highlighted space toilets whose waste is actually recycled to provide a water supply to the astronauts!
Space toilet
and examples of astronaut food.
Astronaut food
In space, food needs to last without refrigeration and needs not to require cooking. You have to eat very carefully since the food drifts away.
There is a real Soyuz Descent Module on site. This is a spacecraft used as transport to and from the International Space Station. What is amazing is how close quarters the astronauts share in this transport vehice. The International Space Station maintains docked Soyuz spacecraft at all times to be used as escape craft in the event of an emergency.
Soyuz Descent Module
You go outside and take a boardwalk path to get to Chabot’s two observatories. On Saturday and Sundays during the day, they are open to the public from noon to 5pm. You can observe the sun, moon or Venus with the help of volunteers. You can get a free digital picture taken of you with the 20 inch Rachel telescope.
20 inch Rachel telescope
The smaller 8 inch Alvan Clark telescope is shown below from two different angles (see below).
The best time to view is in the evening every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 pm (weather permitting).