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April 2017: Programs and Events at the California Academy of Sciences
A month-long celebration of all things celestial, capped off by San Francisco’s biggest party of the year!
Big Bang: Party After Dark 2017 Thursday, April 27 | 8:30-midnight 21 and over The Academy’s biggest bash of the year is back! Enjoy an unforgettable night of music by Hot Chip, dancing in the silent disco, photo booths, cocktails in the psychedelic lounge, and bites by some of the Bay Area’s best food trucks. This annual fundraiser supports the Academy’s mission to explore, explain, and sustain life. Individual tickets start at $125, but purchase by March 27 and save $25! Buy tickets here.
Astronomy Day Saturday, April 29 | 10 am – 4 pm Piazza Founded in 1973, Astronomy Day is an opportunity to share in a love for stargazing! At the Academy, it’s a day filled with talks from both expert and amateur astronomers, building space-related crafts, learning about cutting edge research in the Bay, and more. Join us for an out-of-this-world festival celebrating the science of space!
Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture The Diversity of Alien Worlds MondayApril 3 | 7:30 pm Morrison Planetarium Dr. Stephen Kane, San Francisco State University In this talk, Dr. Kane delves into the hundreds of planets that have been discovered, many showing a diversity to the ones in our own solar system. He takes a closer look at the planets which reside in the Habitable Zone (HZ) of their host stars, and will attempt to dispel some misperceptions about the Habitable Zone. Reservations required. $12 members and seniors; $15 non-members.
Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover Saturday April 1 Ages 5-17, with adult chaperone Why count sheep when you can count geckos and butterflies? Sleepovers let you explore the Academy after-hours, then snuggle up in your pajamas and sleeping bags at a location of your choice. Includes a bedtime story and snack, plus breakfast and Academy admission the following day. $89 members, $109 non-members. Registration required. Visit calacademy.org/sleepovers for program details and registration.
Coming Soon! Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs Opening May 19, 2017 For as long as dinosaurs walked the Earth, flying animals called pterosaurs ruled the skies. Not birds, not bats, not dinosaurs—these extraordinary winged reptiles adapted for life in the air and were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. In this revealing new exhibit, explore rare fossils and discover the amazing diversity and evolution of these ancient creatures. Walk beneath a life-size model of the largest animal to ever navigate the skies and marvel at its colossal size. View a fabulous array of real pterosaur skulls alongside colorful illustrations of head crests. “Soar” through the sky and virtual prehistoric landscapes within a “Fly like a Pterosaur” interactive. Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org).
Ongoing Events at the California Academy of Sciences
New Butterfly Emergence Experience Osher Rainforest The Academy’s four-story lush rainforest is teeming with more than 1,600 live plants and animals from around the world, but perhaps its best-known inhabitants are its fluttering, heart-captivating friends: the butterflies. Now, the life cycle of these tropical butterflies unfold through a special viewing chamber newly opened on the rainforest’s canopy level, which includes several butterfly species new to the dome.
Hubble’s Hits Daily Hofheld Hall Celebrate the mind-boggling achievements of the famous Hubble Space Telescope and explore the scientific contributions of one of the most successful instruments ever launched into space. Uncover mysteries of our Universe— near and far—in this live, 15-minute program hosted by a Planetarium presenter. No tickets are necessary for this presentation.