Jul 12, 2022
Albuquerque, NM - Join us at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) on July 12 for a pair of special events that showcase the wide range of offerings at the Museum.
What: The next Relaxed Night from NMMNHS is almost here! Relaxed Nights are evenings for anyone who might get overwhelmed by crowds, sounds, or flashing lights. Or, for visitors who simply enjoy smaller crowds.
On Relaxed Nights, the Museum will be set up in a sensory-friendly way: the sound will be turned down, the Bisti Beast will be “resting” with no movement or roaring, and the Planetarium will have the lights on low and the volume turned down.
These evenings are for all ages and will feature special, sensory-friendly offerings in the museum.
On the same day in a different part of the Museum, the Space Science department will be celebrating the release of the first images from NASA’s high-powered James Webb Space Telescope by simultaneously broadcasting the images as they’re released.
These images, from the world’s premier infrared space observatory, will show infrared radiation from Solar System planets, exoplanets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies, providing new insight into the early universe and other astronomical mysteries.
The Museum will also be hosting a panel of experts. University of New Mexico professor Tony Hull will start with a brief introduction, then he will be joined by NASA scientists in an online program to discuss the never-before-seen images.
The Space Science event is free, and admission to Relaxed Night is $5. Tickets to Relaxed Night are available at https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/events/relaxed-nights-museum-3.
When: Both events will take place Tuesday, July 12. Relaxed Night will run from 4-7 p.m., while the Space Science offerings will feature a pair of activities throughout the day.
NASA will release its images at 8:30 a.m. The Space Science expert panel will convene at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon.
Where: Both events will take place in different parts of NMMNHS, located at 1801 Mountain Road NW in Albuquerque. Relaxed Night activities will take place primarily in the Museum lobby, and visitors attending Relaxed Night should enter through the main entrance so as not to disrupt visitors attending the NASA event.
Activities related to the Webb image broadcast will take place in the STEM Theater. Because the Museum is closed on Tuesdays, Space Science has requested that visitors use the door in the education wing to enter and exit.
This door is located on the north side of the museum, next to the parking lot, behind a sculpture of a human figure holding an arc of birds. Do not use the main entrance by the dinosaurs for this event.
Why: Between offering access to one of the most awaited image releases in the astronomical world and making the history and biology behind chocolate accessible to all audiences, the Museum truly offers something for everyone!
