On Now Until 4 Dec
- When
- 1 Oct 2026 – 4 Dec 2026
- Where
- SF State Observatory, Thornton Hall
- Cost
- Open to the public; no admission price listed
Checked 12 Oct 2026 on the organizer’s page.
SF State opens its rooftop observatory to the public on clear nights, with student docents helping you look through the telescopes. The observatory recommends it for ages 8 and up, and it's a short walk from the M Muni stop at 19th and Holloway. No admission price is listed.
| When | Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights through Friday, December 4, 2026, clear skies only: 7–9:30pm in October, 6:30–9pm in November and December |
|---|---|
| Where | Rooftop observatory, Thornton Hall, SF State, 1600 Holloway Ave |
| Cost | SF State’s page lists no admission price |
| Who it suits | Ages 8 and up (the observatory’s recommendation) |
| Getting there | Muni Metro M at 19th Ave & Holloway Ave, about a 2-minute walk; buses 18, 29, 57 and 58 stop within 5 minutes |
San Francisco State University opens its rooftop observatory to the public on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights this fall, with student docents helping visitors find the Moon, Saturn and Titan, double stars and, from October, the Andromeda galaxy. The observatory recommends it for ages 8 and up.
Open only when skies are clear (and it may close in high winds), so check the observatory’s Instagram before you go. Hours: 7:30–9:30 pm in September, 7–9:30 pm in October, 6:30–9 pm in November and December. Closed Nov 11 and Nov 23–27; the last night is Friday, Dec 4. Take the elevator up Thornton Hall, then the nearby stairs to the top (the observatory’s page names both the 9th and the 10th floor for the elevator).
Questions People Ask About SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, Through Dec 4)
When is the SF State Observatory open to the public?
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights this fall, only when the sky is clear: 7 to 9:30pm in October, 6:30 to 9pm in November and December. The last public night is Friday, December 4, 2026.
Which nights is the SF State Observatory closed?
Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) and November 23–27 (fall recess). It also stays shut on cloudy nights and may close in high winds even when the sky is clear; the observatory posts closures on its Instagram.
What age is the SF State Observatory public night for?
The observatory recommends it for ages 8 and up.
Does the SF State Observatory charge admission?
SF State’s observatory page lists no admission price or ticket.
How do I find the observatory in Thornton Hall?
Take the elevator up Thornton Hall, then the nearby stairwell to the top; the observatory door is on your left. The observatory’s page gives both the 9th and the 10th floor for the elevator.
Sources: SF State Department of Physics & Astronomy: Observatory (nights, hours, ages, closures and directions), checked 20 October 2026.
Getting There
- M19th Ave & Holloway AveMuni Metro M · 101 m, about 2 min walk
- MOcean Ave & Aptos AveMuni Metro K · 0.6 mi, about 15 min walk
- BDaly City BART1.2 mi, about 29 min walk
Transit directions, including buses
Nearest Muni Metro, streetcar and cable car stops and BART stations, from SFMTA and BART published stop data. Distances are straight-line, and walking times are our estimate. Buses aren’t listed here.
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Getting there by Muni
Straight-line distance from the venue; check SFMTA for times and service changes. From our Events by Muni data, November 9, 2026.
Source: SF State Department of Physics & Astronomy ↗ · Checked against the official source on October 12, 2026. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Dates, times, prices and venue checked against the official source on .
Cite this page: Project SF, “SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, through Dec 4)”, projectsf.com/events/sf-state-observatory-public-nights-wed-fri-through-dec-4/ (updated ).