in the new Science Center. Opened August 19, 2000, the Chabot Space & Science Center is an , state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a site in the hills of Oakland, California. The museum was formerly an affiliate in the Smithsonian Affiliations program but is currently no longer an affiliate. Attractions Aside from its telescopes, it contains: A "full dome digital projection system" with various shows running daily, and a Zeiss Universarium fiber-optic projector with weekly shows. NASA Ames Research Center, a hands-on exhibition that brings to life the thrilling, challenging and inspiring process of scientific discovery by showcasing the real stories and people at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The Theater, a dome screen auditorium which presented various IMAX-like shows. (now no longer in regular use). Many changing exhibits, full of hands-on displays, that highlight space and science topics. Telescopes Chabot Space and Science Center has three observatory telescopes, all of which are open to the public on weekends. "Leah" is an 8" refractor telescope built in 1883 by Alvan Clark & Sons and donated by Anthony Chabot. "Rachel" is a 20" refractor telescope, commissioned in 1914 from Warner & Swasey, with optics by John Brashear. It is the largest refractor in the western United States regularly open to the public. "Nellie" is a 36" Cassegrain reflector telescope which opened in August 2003, housed in a rolling roof observatory. The primary mirror was donated by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and figured and polished by Rayleigh Optical Corporation. Control systems and mount drives were purchased from DFM Engineering. Observatory quick facts Original Observatory built: 1883, near Downtown Oakland, California Second Observatory built: 1915, at Mountain Boulevard Third (Present) Observatory built: 2000, at Skyline Boulevard Telescope Details Leah Type - Refracting telescope Maker - Alvan Clark & Sons, 1883 Aperture – 8 inches Focal Length – 112 inches Mount – German equatorial Benefactor: Anthony Chabot Usage Intent – popular and educational use Meridian Transit Telescope Type - Transit telescope Maker - Fauth & Co., 1885 Aperture – 4 inches Focal Length – Mount – Double Pier Transit Usage Intent – popular and educational use / time determination Rachel Type - Refracting telescope Maker - Warner & Swasey / John Brashear, 1914 Aperture – 20 inches Focal Length – Mount – German equatorial Cost – $20,000 Usage Intent – popular and educational use, formerly used for spacecraft tracking Nellie Type - Reflecting