Earth Science Name:________________________________

Mr. Beeby Date: _____________________ Period: ____

Maximum Beyond The Classroom Value: 30 points

Self-Guided Tour: Chabot Space & Science Center

Overview
You can receive “Beyond the Classroom” credit for exploring the exhibits at the Chabot Space &
Science Center and completing the following write-up. Do as much as you wish.
Follow the directions carefully on this tour; you will need a camera to verify your participation. Each
student must submit their own packet. (If with a group, it is okay to just have one set of photos—
be sure and let Mr. Beeby know which packet contains the photos.) Points are awarded for
completing each of the following parts of this self-guided tour:

Η Part 1: (10 points) Outside Plaza

Starry Night Gift Shop
Main Rotunda
Einstein’s Telescope
Destination Universe
Gravity Well Exhibit
Pleiades Courtyard
Η Part 2: (5 points) Earth and Cosmos Mural
Smithsonian Exhibition Gallery: Armillary Sphere Exhibit
Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space

Η Part 3: (10 points) Cold War, Hot Race Exhibit

Moon Odyssey Exhibit
Solar-Go-Round Exhibit

Η Part 4: (5 points) Planetarium Show

Megadome IMAX Theater Show

Hours and Admission Fees

The Chabot Space & Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. in Oakland.
Maps to the center and other pertinent information are available on-line: www.chabotspace.org
Phone: (510) 336-7300 for general info; advance tickets at (510) 336-7373. BE SURE TO CALL
PRIOR TO VISITING AS CS&SC IS SOMETIMES CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DURING REGULAR
HOURS OF OPERATION AS IT HOSTS CONFERENCES AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday & Thursday: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Sunday: 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Admission Prices: General Admission: $10.00 student/senior ($13 adult)
(Includes Planetarium Show))
MegaDome Theater Show or Sonic Vision: $7.00 student/senior ($8 adult)

Telescope Viewing (FREE!): Friday and Saturday evenings (weather permitting): 7:00 to 10:00 P.M.
Your Name: ______________________ Earth Science Period: _____

Other Students You Toured Center With: _________________________________________

Date of Your Visit: _____________________ Hours of Your Visit: _____________________

¾ Please staple all ticket stub(s) for admission and shows from your visit to this sheet.

 When you see this symbol, take and attach a picture of yourself (or provide a cd of all
photos) in front of the identified exhibit (to provide verification of you being there).
Take a picture of your entire group (unless you're alone) outside the museum. Attach here.

Part 1 (10 points)

Outside Plaza [in front of main entrance]
(1) What does the design on the ground in the outside auto/bus turnaround area look like?
_____________________________________________________________________________
(2) What kind of structure is found in the center of the smaller plaza near the main entrance doors?
_____________________________________________________________________________
 Take a picture of yourself standing in front of this structure/instrument.

Starry Night Gift Shop [just to the right of the ticket counter]
(1) What is suspended above the gift shop area? _________________________________________
(2) What is the largest object in the center of the model? ___________________________________
(3) Which planets can you identify in the model? ________________________________________

Main Rotunda [large circular open space just past the ticket counter]
(1) What is the design on the floor here? _______________________________________________
(2) What area of the Chabot Space & Science Center does each of these arrows point towards?
North Arrow: ___________________________ South Arrow: ___________________________
East Arrow: ____________________________ West Arrow: ___________________________
(3) What is found directly overhead when you stand in the center? ___________________________
(4) Go upstairs to take a closer look and to be able to answer:
a) What does the moving sculpture represent? _________________________________________
b) What is the scientific definition of a wave? __________________________________________
c) What is a wave: length? _________________________________________________________
frequency? ______________________________________________________
amplitude? ______________________________________________________

 Take a picture of yourself with Reuben Margolin’s moving sculpture behind you, then go
back downstairs.
Gravity Well Exhibit [to the left of the main rotunda; play with a few coins]
(1) What happens if you drop a coin in the slot here? ______________________________________
(2) What happens to any coin as it approaches the center? __________________________________
(3) Which goes faster—a small coin or a large coin? _____________________________________
(4) What does this three-dimensional model represent? ___________________________________
(5) What could be said to have a "bottomless" gravity well? _______________________________
Einstein’s Telescope [between planetarium and exhibition hall]
(1) To whom did Albert Einstein give his telescope? _________________________________________
(2) Why? ____________________________________________________________________________
(3) To what does the “Great Dragon” refer? ________________________________________________
(4) Who is Gustav Bucky? ______________________________________________________________
 Take a picture of yourself in front of this telescope.
Exhibition Hall: Destination Universe [to the left of the telescope]
Entrance
(1) What three big questions will all of the exhibits within address?
a. ____________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________
Intro Video: Origins
(1) Identify three cultures whose creation myths are explored in this short video:
_________________________ _________________________ ________________________
(2) According to modern science, how long ago did the Big Bang happen? ____________________
Stellarium [dark area on left near curtains; push the buttons to activate]
(1) What is the single yellow star near the center? _________________________
(2) Which triple stars are closest to the Sun? ____________________________________________
(3) Which red giant star is near the Sun? ___________________________
(4) Which orange giant star is near the Sun? ___________________________
(5) Which is the brightest blue star in the nearby sky? ________________________
Stars Have Cool Colors [push buttons and observe]
(1) What’s the cooler color for a star? ____________________
(2) What’s the hotter color for a star? ____________________
What Is a Star? [look in stereoviewer]
(1) What’s the closest star to the Earth? _________________
(2) How do big, hot stars end their lives? ____________________________________
(3) How are stars vital to life? ____________________________________________________
The Life of a Star [push buttons to activate]
(1) What causes a star to glow? ___________________________________________________
(2) What causes a star to die? _____________________________________________________
(3) How will a big, brilliant star like Sirius die? _________________________________________
(4) What will our Sun become once it runs out of fuel? ____________________________________
(5) Why will a star like Barnard last so long? ____________________________________________
(6) What will Rigel ultimately collapse into and “disappear”? ______________________________
Nebula Gas [line up the slide and push the buttons]
(1) What are nebulae made of? ____________________________________________________
(2) How do we analyze these gases? __________________________________________________
(3) What does a diffraction grating do? _________________________________________________
(4) What is a star’s spectrum? ________________________________________________________
(5) Which gas has a predominantly
--- yellow orange color? _______________________ red color? _________________________
--- blue color? _________________________ pale pink color? _________________________
What Is a Nebula? [look in stereoviewer]
(1) What is a nebula? _______________________________________________________________
(2) Which nebula shown is the birthplace of new stars? _________________________
(3) Which nebula shown is the remnant of a supernova? _________________________
(4) Which nebula is the last remains of a small star? ___________________________
Red and Blue [slide the gel tubes into place in front of the light and observe]
(1) What color tends to be most readily absorbed or reflected by a nebular cloud? ______________
(2) What color tends to be most readily transmitted through a nebular cloud? ______________
Black Hole [go ahead—crawl into it!]
(1) What do you see above you in the middle of this black hole shaft? ________________________
(2) If this were really a black hole, what would happen to you (or anything else) once you went in?
___________________________________________________________________________
 Take a picture of yourself emerging from the black hole.
Celestial Kaleidoscope [give it a twirl and take a peek]
(1) What three nebulae are photographed? ______________________________________________
(2) Which galaxy is shown? _____________________________________________________
(3) Which of these images makes for the most interesting kaleidoscope design? _________________
Galaxies Galore
(1) What causes galaxies to “stick together” in space? _________________________
(2) What are such galaxy “groups” called? __________________________
History of the Universe
(1) When examining the long history of the universe, how long ago did the following likely happen?
the Big Bang: _________ our solar system born: ____________ first life here: ____________
arrival of dinosaurs: _________________ earliest modern human ancestors: _______________
Galaxy Collisions [push the buttons to activate the computer animations]
(1) Which nearby galaxy is destined to collide with the Milky Way Galaxy? ___________________
(2) When is it projected that this collision is likely to happen? ____________________________
(3) Which shows a small intruder galaxy careening through a large spiral one? __________________
(4) Which shows a head-on collision between two spiral galaxies? ___________________________
(5) Which shows a small spiral galaxy and great elliptical galaxy colliding? ____________________
What Is a Galaxy?
(1) How far away from the Milky Way Galaxy is the Andromeda Galaxy? _____________________
(2) How far away are the most distant galaxies we have so far observed? ______________________
(3) What happens when galaxies collide? _______________________________________________
Galaxy Hunter! [examine these telescope photographs with the magnifying glasses]
(1) Name four different kinds of galaxies (identifiable by shape) that are shown in these photographs:
__________________ __________________ __________________ ___________________
(2) How many galaxies are found in the Local Group to which the Milky Way belongs? __________
(3) How many galaxies are found in the Virgo Cluster to which the Local Group belongs? ________
Where Are You in the Universe? [step into the booth and take a touch-screen journey]
(1) At what power of ten (in meters) are you out to a distance where you can see:
the whole Earth? _______ the whole solar system? _______ the next closest star? _________
the whole Milky Way Galaxy? _________ the Local Group of Galaxies? _________
millions of galactic clusters? _________ the edge of the known universe? _________
(2) At light speed, how long will it take to return home from the edge of the universe? ___________
 Take a picture of yourself looking out from this booth.
Hubble Update [Flat screen display on wall next to universe booth]
(1) What is the Hubble Space Telescope studying this week? List three (3) areas of study:
a. _______________________ b. __________________________ c.___________________________
(2) Lore and Lure of Mars: a. When was Mars last this close to the Earth? _______________________
b. How is Mars connected to war and aggression? __________________________________________
c. Who discovered it’s moon and when? __________________________________________________
You Are Made of Stardust [along the wall of the curved exit hall]
(1) Where did the gas and dust of our solar system come from? ______________________________
(2) How might you be “reincarnated” in the future? _______________________________________
 Pleiades Courtyard [outside just beyond the Celestial Café area]
 Take a picture of yourself standing in the middle of the courtyard.
(1) What constellation is inlaid in the central part of this plaza? __________ How many stars? ____
(2) Which of these appears to be the largest? _____________ Which is the smallest? ____________
(3) To the west of the courtyard there is a small semicircular amphitheater next to a covered plaza.
a. What is suspended above the center of the stage area? _______________________________
b. What would you guess it does? _________________________________________________
Part 2 (5 points)
Earth and Cosmos Mural [Go back into the building that you just left, past the Celestial Café and hang
a U-turn to the right to proceed up the main stairway and turn left at the top of the stairs]
(1) Begin at the far left and as you move from left to right, what does the whole mural attempt to show?
_____________________________________________________________________________
(2) What do the black areas in the mural represent? _______________________________________
(3) Identify what is illustrated in each of the following panels (counting from left to right):
1st and 2nd panels: ________________________ 3rd panel: _____________________________
4th panel: _______________________________ 5th panel: _____________________________
6th panel: _______________________________ 7th panel: __________________________
(4) What tiny object (think old TV show) is hidden in the bottom right of the 11th panel? ____________
(5) What is represented in the 12th, 13th, and 14th panels of this mural? ________________________
(6) How many small V-shaped balcony decks can you look out from on the Loggia? ____________
Smithsonian Exhibition Gallery [at the top of the stairs to the right of the mural]
(1) What does an “armillary sphere do? ____________________________________________________
(2) The replica on display is from where and what era? _______________________________________
(3) How many dragons can you find? _______________
BEYOND BLASTOFF: Surviving in Space
[Enter through “The Clorox Company Traveling Exhibit Hall” doors]
(1) Keeping a Clear Head – List four mental challenges faced by astronauts: ____________________
__________________________________ _____________________________________ ___________________________________

(2) How do astronauts stay fit in space? _____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(3) What is weightlessness? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(4) Picture yourself weightless! Do it! Email photo to: jbeeby@bishopodowd.org

(5) Dodging Space Junk Why is this a problem? _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What happened to the Solar Max satellite? _______________________________________________

 (6) Recycling Water in Space A new system will recycle what kinds of water on the International Space
Station (“ISS”)? ____________________________________________________________________
(7) Managing Space Waste What happens to waste on the ISS? ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(8) Eating Out – Way Out Why do different space missions require different menus? _______________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(9) Soyuz Descent Module How long does it take to return to Earth from the ISS? __________________
How long does it take to get to the ISS from Earth? ________________________________________
 Take a picture of yourself standing in front of the Soyuz Descent Module.

(10) Suited for Space What would happen to an astronaut in space without an EVA suit? _____________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How many layers does the EVA suit have? ______ What is the function of each layer? ___________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(11) Earth from Afar How many people have seen Earth from the Moon? _________________________
Photos of Earth, from space, provide important scientific data about…?—List four things:
1. __________________ 2. _________________ 3. ________________ 4. ___________________
(12) Humans is Space Flight Give dates for the following:
First woman: ____________ First human: _____________ First American: _______________
First manned Moon Landing: ______________ First Space Shuttle launch: __________________
Longest human space flight: _________________________ By whom: ______________________
(13) Space Spinoffs Does space exploration have side benefits? ____________ Name a few of these
benefits: __________________________________________________________________________
(14) Microgravity Trainer Try it! Describe what it does: _______________________________________
How was the experience different than you expected? ______________________________________
Part 3 (10 points)
Cold War, Hot Race Exhibit
[in glass-covered skybridge connecting to adjacent building, next to armillary sphere]
(1) In what year did each of the following break-through events in space travel take place?
-- the launching of the first satellite (Sputnik) by the Soviet Union: __________
-- the launching of the first satellite (Explorer) by the United States: __________
-- the first man to be launched into space? __________ -- the first woman? _________
-- the first humans on the Moon? __________ -- the last mission to the Moon? _________
(2) What kind of animal was launched into space in 1957 in Sputnik 2? __________________
(3) What kind of animal was launched into space in 1961 in Mercury? ___________________
 Take a picture of yourself inside the Mercury space capsule.
Moon Odyssey Exhibit [near stairway at the far end of the skybridge]
Lunar Lander Simulator [step into it and give it a try]
(1) What two controls do you manipulate to land the lunar module? __________________________
(2) What happened when you tried to land it? ___________________________________________
Lunar Lander Training Station [this is a first-generation video game—give it a try]
(1) What was your score the first time you tried to land? __________ the second time? _________
Fly Me to the Moon [look for the rocket in the stairwell]
(1) What’s the name of the biggest rocket ever launched? _________________
(2) How tall was this rocket? _______________ Does it all fit here in the stairwell? __________
A Piece of the Moon [up the stairs and to the right in a display case]
(1) What type of rock sample was brought back by Apollo 15? ______________________________
(2) How old did this rock sample turn out to be? _______________________________
One Giant Leap [display area to the right of the Challenger Learning Center]
(1) What do astronomers call the giant impact that may have created the Moon? ________________
(2) About how long ago do we think that this collision occurred? ________________________
Weighing the Difference
(1) How does the Moon’s gravity compare to that found here on Earth? __________________
(2) If an object weighed 100 pounds here on Earth, what would it weigh on the Moon? ___________
Faces of the Moon
(1) Why can’t we ever see the back side of the Moon from Earth?
_____________________________________________________________________________
(1) How many times does the Moon rotate for each time it travels around the Earth? ____________
Discover your weight on Other Worlds
(1) What is your weight on: Earth? _____ (2) Mars? _____ (3) the Moon? _____ (4) Jupiter? _____
Phases of the Moon [sit in the apparatus in the back corner of the exhibit area]
(1) Basically, what causes the phases of the Moon?
______________________________________________________________________________
(2) During a full moon, how much of the whole Moon’s surface do you actually see? ____________
 Take a picture of yourself sitting in this exhibit apparatus.
Solar-Go-Round Exhibit [in Gruener Astronomy Hall, the main exhibit area upstairs]
Look up!: This exhibit shows the Sun as approximately 20-feet across (diameter). The planets are on the
same size scale (see the rings), but this model does not show the actual distances. Why not?
_________________________________________________________________________________
If this model did show the actual distances to the scale of this 20-foot sun:
(2) Where would Jupiter be? _____________________________________
 (3) Saturn? ________________________________________________
(4) Uranus? ___________________________________________________
(5) Neptune? ______________________________________________________
(6) Pluto? ________________________________________________________
Tracing the Magnetic Sun
(1) Why no sunspots? ___________________________________________________
Our Sun is a Star
(1) When energy from inside the reaches the surface it flows into the Solar System in two forms:
a) ________________________ b) ____________________________
(2) Does the Sun spin? ___________ How fast? _____________________________________
(3) What causes sun spots? ________________________________________________________
Tour the Solar System
Sun
(1) How many Earth’s would fit inside the Sun? ______________________________________
(2) How many Earth’s would it take to equal the Sun’s mass? ____________________________
Mercury
Mercury looks like a moon, but it has a magnetic field that suggests _________________________.
The few close-up picture we have of Mercury were taken in what year and by what mission?
____________________________________________________________________________________
What plans does NASA have regarding Mercury in the year 2011? __________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Venus
The atmosphere on Venus is primarily what compound? ________________________________
The surface temperature of Venus is 460 degrees Celsius—hotter than Mercury. Why is this?
______________________________________________________________________________
Earth
(1) Earth began as what kind of (hot) rock? ______________________________
(2) Even today, heat escaping from the molten interior pushes pieces of solid crust around causing:
a. _________________________ and b. _____________________________________
Mars
(1) Name five ways that long ago Mars was more like the Earth: a) ___________________________
b) _________________ c) ___________________ d)______________________ e) ______________

Jupiter
(1) How many known moons does Jupiter have? __________________________________
(2) Deep inside Jupiter, under pressure 30 million times greater than Earth’s atmosphere, gases
eventually become what? _________________________________________________
(3) How old is the Great Red Spot? ______ How big is it? ________________________
(4) What elements compose most of Jupiter’s atmosphere? __________________________
Neptune
(1) How many moons? _______ What are most of these made of? ____________________
(2) Name two ways that Neptune’s moon, Triton, is unique:
a) __________________________________ b) _________________________________
(3) When was Neptune first discovered? ________________________________________
Uranus
(1) How long is a day on Uranus? __________________ Its night? _____________________
(2) How many moons does it have? ______________________________________________
Saturn
(1) Does Saturn have a solid surface? _____________ What’s the surface temperature? ___________
(2) How many known moons does Saturn have? ___________________
Pluto
(1) According to this exhibit, is Pluto a planet? ____ Why or why not? _________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Is this correct information as of today’s date? _______Why or why not? ________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
(2) How long does it take Pluto to orbit the Sun? _______________________________________
Beyond Neptune & Pluto
(1) What is the Kuiper Belt? ___________________________________________________________
(2) What is the Ort Cloud? ____________________________________________________________
(3) How many comet-like bodies does the Kuiper Belt contain? _______ The Ort Cloud? _________
(4) Why is the Ort Cloud considered the true boundary of our solar system? _____________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Asteroids & Meteorites
(1) You can touch and lift Chinga—do it! What is it like? ___________________________________
(2) Describe Esquel: _________________________________________________________________
(3) When was it discovered? __________? How old is it? ___________________________________
(4) Scientists have determined that there were no impact craters near the Gooselake meteorite and that it
was re-heated after impact. What is one plausible explanation for this? _______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(5) When did Millbillillie fall? ___________ When was it discovered? ________________________
Part 4 (5 points)
Planetarium Show
¾ Remember to attach your ticket stub for this show.

(1) What was the name of the planetarium show you saw? _________________________________
(2) At what time did you see this show? _____________ About how long was it? ______________
(3) Describe three things you learned from watching this show:

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(4) Describe two special effects in this show that you found particularly interesting:

a. __________________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________________

Megadome IMAX Theater Show

¾ Remember to attach your ticket stub for this show.

(1) What was the name of the theater show you saw? _____________________________________
(2) At what time did you see this show? _____________ About how long was it? ______________
(3) Describe three things you learned from watching this show:

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(4) Describe two sequences in this show that you found particularly interesting to watch:

a. __________________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________________
 NOTES:
_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________