Fleet Science Center

At the Fleet Science Center, you can touch a tornado, design images with a sand pendulum, examine the vibration of guitar strings and get your hands on a variety of intriguing scientific phenomena through dozens of delightful interactive exhibits for all ages. Color in a New Light, Wild Creativity and Deep Sky are the newest experiences. And familiar favorites are Kid City and Studio X are still available.

The Fleet is home to the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, presenting immersive experiences through IMAX® movies, documentary films, cutting-edge educational programming and exciting planetarium shows, transporting audiences from outer space to underwater and every place in between.

Get ready for a brief cosmic pause as the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater at the Fleet Science Center with new, state-of-the-art seats and enhanced accommodations, ensuring an even more spectacular experience upon our grand reopening! Get ready to sink into a world of comfort, technology and discovery that will make every visit truly unforgettable. Explore the IMAX shows available here.

Located in beautiful Balboa Park, the Fleet Science Center also offers:

Studio X, where you can experiment, invent and create,
Color in a New Light
Wild Creativity
Pulseworks® VR Transporter™
Kid City, a place just for kids ages five and under,
Workshops, camps and more,
Craveology, which serves up flatbread pizzas, salads, ice cream and other delicious treats,
The North Star Science Store, where you can find unique, science-related toys and games, books and more.

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

Newest Exhibit: Color in a New Light

Now Open!

Step into a world where you can unveil the secrets of light and color, captivating your senses and sparking your curiosity. Dive deep into the fascinating realms of darkness, visible and invisible light, and color. Each area offers a unique and interactive experience that will illuminate and enlighten.

The key areas to explore –

How Dark is Dark? Begin in the dark, where you’ll understand how light has direction and see what is blacker than black.
Light We Can’t See: Venture into the invisible light realm, discovering the wonders of infrared and ultraviolet light.
Light We Can See: Dive into the visible light spectrum, explore optics and the concept that colors are created by reflected light.
Color: Mix hues, illuminate your surroundings and saturate your senses.

Let’s start this adventure and explore the wonders of Color in a New Light together!