Round two of celebrating the spectacular starry skies, but this time we're sprinkling in some extra stardust (aka music and minerals)! View the wonders of the night skies at one of our telescope stations and enjoy space-themed lectures, live rock music, and visiting our friends from the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society.
Tonight's Schedule:
6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Rock It Science Activities
Get hands-on with rocks and minerals from Earth and space!
- Tucson Gem and Mineral Society
- Meteorites and Meteor-wrongs
- Moon Rock-Earth Rocks
- Mineral give-aways
Did you know? The Desert Museum displays one of the largest lunar specimens you can see in Arizona! It was collected in 1972 on Apollo 17, the final Apollo mission, by Harrison Schmitt. Schmitt was the first scientist (geologist) and the last person to step on the moon! He later served as a US Senator from New Mexico.
Warden Oasis Theater:
6:30 p.m. Tucson School of Rock performing live! The School of Rock House Band is a group of dedicated and talented young musicians that frequently perform gigs at street fairs, community events and festivals, and now at the Desert Museum! Enjoy this chance to listen to these young stars – they really rock!
8:300 p.m. Talk by Dr. Pierre Haenecour of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (Stardust, OSIRIS-REx)
Throughout the Night:
Look for Museum Docents around grounds interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and more!
6:00 - 9:30 p.m. Stingray Touch Exhibit
Admission: $2 Members / $4 Non-Members
Visitors are able to create their own moments with these captivating creatures at the Stingray Touch experience. The pool features cow nose stingrays that guests can interact with. Be touched by a ray!
6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Packrat Playhouse
This indoor play space allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of a packrat! Packrat Playhouse may reach capacity. 30-minute reserved play times are available at the Packrat Playhouse entrance.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Art Exhibits
Make sure to check out the opening night of 'Camouflage' in the Ironwood Gallery and see 'Desert Textures' in the Baldwin Gallery!
Signature Drink — Sandy Margarita
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ABOUT COOL SUMMER NIGHTS:
Open till 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays June 7 - August 31, 2025! All Cool Summer Nights events are included with Museum admission.
The Desert Museum is lovely during the day, but it’s even cooler after dark! Join us every Saturday night throughout the summer to beat the heat while learning something neat! The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Bats perform aerial acrobatics in pursuit of dinner, otters splash around in their pond, and scorpions glow green under black light. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a refreshing drink and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, or participate in special nightly activities.
Learn more:
https://www.desertmuseum.org/visit/events_saturday_csn
Consider joining our membership program. A lot of bang for your buck! Learn more:
http://www.desertmuseum.org/members/
You may also like the following events from Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum:
Also check out other
Arts events in Tucson,
Performances in Tucson.
