Chabot Space & Science Center Reports Record Breaking Attendance For Venus Transit

More Astronomical Phenomena Featured this Summer

OAKLAND, Calif., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chabot Space & Science Center Executive Director & CEO, Alexander Zwissler, reported that the June 5th last-in-our-lifetime Venus Transit resulted in record paid attendance at Chabot since the 2000 opening of the current facility. Throngs exceeding 2,500 poured into the Center with lines forming in advance of the doors opening at 2 p.m.

According to Zwissler, "There's a generation that grew up with the excitement of NASA missions, Halley's Comet, and Hubble telescopes images. The recent major astronomical events viewable on the West Coast – the Annular Solar Eclipse, the Lunar Eclipse, and the Venus Transit - have recharged that excitement and this generation now wants to share that feeling of tremendous awe with their children and grandchildren. We want to make sure that the public is aware that celestial events are happening every night, and even the more common sights of Jupiter or Saturn are spectacular when seen through a massive 20" refractor like the one we call 'Rachel.'"

The Center and telescopes are open to the public for extended summer hours Tuesday through Sunday (check the website for any change in schedule), and every Friday and Saturday night until 10 p.m.  Some of the highlights:  

June 21 is the arrival of the Summer Solstice at 1:11 p.m, marking the beginning of summer. Visitors in the Center gather to witness the ray of light streaming through the skylight in beautiful and precise alignment with the Rotunda's architectural design

July 28 visitors will get a good view of the Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower, producing potentially 20 meteors per hour at the peak.

August 3-5 the Center hosts "Planetfest" in conjunction with the Planetary Society. The event coincides with the landing of the Mars Curiosity on August 5.

August 24  is Neptune at Opposition. Chabot is hosting a Star Party Preview with editors of Astronomy Magazine and the East Bay Astronomical Society.

August 25 Chabot holds a day-long Star Party with Astronomy Magazine and Celestron.

For information and updates visit www.chabotspace.org; or call (510) 336-7373.

Chabot Space & Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. The Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland.

SOURCE Chabot Space & Science Center