A Day in Space

We spent the day at the Chabot Space & Science Center! It was very inter-active and the kids loved it because you can touch just about everything!

This is called the WAVE! It is suspended by cables to demonstrate the wave or ripple effect... for example when you drop a pebble in a pond, it creates wave after wave. It was very cool!

We gave this a new name... the Giant Ech-O-Sketch!

Barely in the door and we already have a souvenir! A penny stamped with the Chabot logo!

Everywhere you turn, there is something to see and touch! The kids had a blast learning about the planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, etc.

 

This was a ride that gives you the experience of resistance. Imagine trying to turn a wheel or lever in space and instead of the wheel turning, You are spinning!

Next on the tour was Space Food! Now here's a diet we could ALL lose weight on! First course... Pork with Vegetables! Notice the handy tube dispenser! (Icko!)

Side dish is Potatoes Au Gratin! (even Ickier!)

And finally... dessert! Butter cookies! Now we're talking! Tea and cookies in space!

Have you ever wondered how the astronauts go to the bathroom in space? Yep, I wondered too! Well this is the toilet! Funny looking I know! It comes complete with it's own filtration system too.

Fun photo opportunies too!

Next was the exercise area for the astronauts. If they don't exercise in space, they wouldn't be able to stand/walk when they returned to earth. Bummer, you can't even get a break from exercise in space! ha ha This was the resistence machine and it was tough!

This was a replica space capsule complete with lots of buttons to push! Loved it!

I wear a size 10 shoe so this is what the space boot footprint looks like!

This machine let's you simulate landing a space capsule. This was a lot of fun! Luckily for us when we crashed it (several times), it re-set itself! ha ha

Space air hockey!

This machine simulates gas clouds on planets and how you can create a wind storm.

And just when you need a break from all the walking, they provide a sweet spot for the parents to site down and take a break while the kids dress up and free play!

We were pleasantly surprised to have a unplanned private tour of all three telescopes located at the center! Our guide was very knowledgeable and made it fun for the kids and explained it all at a level we novices could understand! I was so fascinated by all the amazing things to see that I forgot to take pictures but take my word for it, it was amazing! We all agreed to come back again a different day and enjoy the evening tour to see the stars!

This was fun! They showed the original US space landing on the moon and you could stand in front of a green screen and be part of the fun! Hollywood here we come!






Water Rockets! Yes, that's right! The kids got to fill space rocket water bottles and launched them over 100 feet in the air!

A beautiful outdoor garden area!

Well what an amazing day! We spent over 4 hours here enjoying all the inter-active displays in a very non-rushed atmosphere. I recommend going during the week like we did because there were no crowds at all.

Before you leave though, you've got to make a memory and... jump in space!

~*~