Rocks and Stars (Cool Summer Nights)

Schedule

Sat Jul 18 2026 at 06:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-07:00
Location

2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States, Arizona 85743 | Tucson, AZ

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Round two of celebrating the spectacular starry skies, but this time we're sprinkling in some extra stardust (aka minerals)! Prepare for liftoff at Rocks and Stars! Rock out with Tucson’s School of Rock House Band and then strap in for an exploration of cosmic mysteries revealed by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Get heavy with hands-on mineral and meteorite activities. See a real Moon rock and learn about how it got to the Desert Museum.

🌟 Tonight's Schedule:
Hands-on Activities and Education:
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Moon Rock-Earth Rocks: a comparison of Earth and Moon geology in the Earth History Room (aka the cave). Plus join Desert Museum experts and Tucson Gem and Mineral Society for mineral activities, give-aways, and education on how to know if you found a meteorite.
Presentations in the Warden Oasis Theater:
6:30 p.m. School of Rock’s Tucson House Band
The Tucson House Band is comprised of School of Rock Tucson’s most accomplished youth musicians. They cover a wide range of styles, from the Beatles, to Santana, to Metallica! These young stars will rock you!
7:30 p.m. Talk by Dr. Kevin Hainline
University of Arizona Professor, Dr. Kevin Hainline will discuss what we’ve learned about the Universe from the first five years of science with NASA’s amazing James Webb Space Telescope. Join him here to learn about mysterious black holes, ultra-distant galaxies, moons and distant planets. For all we’ve learned, there are still untold mysteries to uncover!
Live Music on the Ironwood Patio:
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Rock out under the stars with Jacob Acosta! This international "Country Pop/ Zonafolk" recording and performing artist is based here in Tucson, Arizona with a musical degree in classical guitar and education.
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 'Baldwin in the Baldwin,' a curated selection from the Baldwin Collection. Established through the patronage of Priscilla and Michael Baldwin and entrusted to the stewardship of the Desert Museum Art Institute as a permanent collection, this visual archive reflects a disciplined commitment to documenting Sonoran biodiversity—holding together the interconnected “big picture” of desert life with the intimacy of close observation. The collection encourages a conservation ethic that recognizes the importance of every desert inhabitant, from the harvester ant to the mountain lion.
Signature Drink — Desert Starlight: Silver Rum, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, Grenadine

🌙 ABOUT COOL SUMMER NIGHTS:
Open till 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays June–August! Cool Summer Nights is 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/
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Where is it happening?

2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States, Arizona 85743

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Host or PublisherArizona-Sonora Desert Museum

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