Masks are required for all visitors 2+. Vaccines recommended. Plan your visit
$15 General
$10 Members; Free for Lab Members
$10 Add-On Ticket for the Tactile Dome Available for Purchase Onsite
Adults Only (18+)
Note: Some programs have limited seating and will be made available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Fourth is strong with this After Dark. Celebrate Star Wars Day with physics, droids, artworks, and encounters with the forces that shape our universe. Also, grab dinner and drinks by the Bay, enjoy hands-on exhibits and demonstrations, and our pitch-black Tactile Dome.
SF Cantina Band
7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 p.m. | Throughout museum
The SF Cantina Band began roaming the streets and bars of San Francisco's Mission District on Halloween in 2009. Since then, the band has performed at wretched hives of scum and villainy such as Foreign Cinema, CellSpace, Public Works, How Weird Street Fair, and PianoFight.
Its members are trained in the ways of the Force as well as the clarinode, bithjo, womp bass, mandoccordian, violion beam, Hutt flute, Hothenspiel, turbo-tuba, and Krayt horn. Its entourage (Hammerhead, Greedo, Walrus Man, Snaggletooth, and other aliens) has an open bar tab on twelve systems.
Quarks, Gluons, and the Strong Force
With Heather Gray
7:00 p.m. | Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio
Over the last century scientists have explored deep within atoms to determine the fundamental constituents of matter. Meet with physicist Heather Gray to learn the quirks of quarks and gluons and study the strong force that keeps them together.
Gravity: The Weak Force
With Patio Plasma
7:30 p.m. | Kanbar Forum
Travel from Galileo’s dropped balls through Newton’s apple-moon to Einstein’s warped spacetime with Exploratorium physicist Patio Plasma. Discover how gravity warps the GPS system, how satellites use gravity to “see” underground and measure California’s groundwater, and how gravitational waves can be used to watch black holes collide and merge.
Tour de Force
With Pearl Tesler
8:00 p.m. | Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio
May the force be with you . . . sure, but which one? Put on your seat belts for a hyperdrive tour of the known forces in the galaxy—forces with you and against you, fundamental and fictitious—with stops along the way to discuss roller derby, wet dogs, headbutting, Darth Vader's death grip, and the mysterious fifth force.
Sculpting Star Wars
With Lorne Peterson
8:30 p.m. | Kanbar Forum
Imagine modeling the Millenium Falcon, or creating Cloud City. What makes them seem real? Join legendary modelmaker Lorne Peterson to hear the stories behind your favorite starships as well as the process for building intricate worlds from unexpected materials.
The Discovery of Light
With Paul Dancstep
9:00 p.m. | Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio
In the mid-nineteenth century, people understood how light behaved but didn’t know what it actually was. Find out how scientists attempting to understand electric sparks and magnetic stones gradually discovered light’s true nature. Their theory became a user’s manual for light, the key to the coming century of radio communication, X-rays, televisions, and microwave ovens.
The Papercraft of Otherlife Art
With David Canavese
6:00–10:00 p.m. | East Gallery, Microscope Imaging Station
Encounter a micro-scale world of science and science fiction modeled in paper. Approximately a half-inch long (1.27 cm) and made entirely from paper, the artist’s fingertip-sized Millennium Falcon took about eight hours to complete.
Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club
6:00–10:00 p.m. | Throughout museum
Spy Mandalorian relations of Boba and Jango Fett wearing costumes inspired by Star Wars films as well as comic-book references, book references, television shows, computer games, and the creativity of MMCC members themselves.
Rebel Legion Endor Base
6:00–10:00 p.m. | Throughout museum
The “light side” is out in force: Look for Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, Sabine Wren, Poe Dameron, and several Jedi Knights on the museum floor.
Roving Droids
With the Bay Area R2 Builders
6:00–10:00 p.m. | Throughout museum
Introduce yourself to full-size, fully functional droids built by the Bay Area R2 Builders, a group of hackers, makers, builders, and above all, Star Wars fans.
Van de Graaff Generator
With the Explainers
6:30–9:30 p.m. | South Gallery
Place your hands on this electrostatic generator to feel the force—high voltage direct current—and watch your hair stand on end.
Feeling Pressured
With Elysa Corin and Zeke Kossover
7:00–9:00 p.m. | Bechtel Central Gallery
Every moment of every day (and night), the weight of the atmosphere is pressing down on us with tremendous force. Using a giant trash bag, a vacuum cleaner with a hose, and a willing volunteer, we can decrease the pressure inside an enclosed space, allowing the universe to press in with even more strength and force than normal.
Use the Force
With Explorables
7:00–10:00 p.m. | South Gallery
Motors
Harness the power of magnetic fields to build a tiny electric motor using a coil of wire, a battery, and a small magnet.
Magnet Trains
Construct an electromagnetically powered train with just three materials. Using a copper coil and battery, create a magnetic field to propel your magnet train.
6:00–9:45 unless noted
Various locations throughout the museum
Drawing Board
Ticketing at 6:00 p.m., first come, first served
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery
Draw hypnotically flowing patterns with a swinging table, and watch friction cause the patterns to slowly shrink along a spiral path. Pick up a ticket to reserve your spot in line for this popular activity.
Speaker Dissection
Bechtel Central Gallery
Tune in to surrounding sounds by experimenting with strings and vibrations, and use electromagnets to build a basic speaker. Learn how to listen with your bones, and explore the workings of the inner ear.
Cow Eye or Flower Dissection (alternating)
East Gallery
Do cows see color? How does a lens work? Examine the intricate structure of a cow eye to learn about similar structures in our own eyes, as well as some key differences.
Stigma, stamen, pistil, anther, style: Uncover the beautiful architecture of flower anatomy, and gather some surprising strategies that plants use to reproduce.
Magic Demonstration
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery
Everything is not as it seems—at first. Pick a card, any card, and watch the Explainers reveal some surprising aspects of human perception.
6:15–10:00 p.m.
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery
Take an excursion through total darkness in our Tactile Dome. Crawl, slide, and bump your way through the pitch-dark Dome using your sense of touch as your only guide through its chambers and mazes.
Please Note: Due to the nature of this experience, certain restrictions apply. Guests who are afraid of the dark; claustrophobic; have back, neck, or knee injuries; or are in their third trimester of pregnancy should not participate. Guests wearing casts are prohibited. Also, please wear comfortable clothes.
Learn more about the Tactile Dome.
Pier 15
(Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.528.4444
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