Press Releases

Albuquerque, NM – For this summer season, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) is thrilled to announce that a pair of much-loved programs – Mineral Mondays and Relaxed Nights – are returning for June and July, with a focus on geology and space science. 

“One of our priorities as a museum is ensuring that our high-quality space science and geology information is accessible to as many audiences as possible,” said NMMNHS Executive Director Dr. Anthony Fiorillo. “And these programs help us bring our educational material to a wide variety of visitors during the summer months.” 

Sensory-friendly Relaxed Nights will be held on the third Thursday of the month in June and July from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mineral Mondays, where Museum experts examine your rock and fossil specimens, will return to the Museum on the fourth Monday of the month in June and July from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

Introduced at the Museum in 2019, Relaxed Nights are sensory-friendly evenings for anyone who might get overwhelmed by crowds, sounds, or flashing lights. On these special evenings, the sound is turned down, the Bisti Beast is “resting” with no movement or roaring, and the Planetarium has the lights on low and the volume turned down. Attendance is limited, and registration is recommended, please visit nmnaturalhistory.org/events/relaxed-nightsat-museum to book your spot. 

The Relaxed Night on Thursday, June 15 will dive into space science, with accessible programming oriented around the Moon, Mars, and more. On Thursday, July 20 will be Fossil Fun, with sensory-friendly activities that focus on paleontology. 

Meanwhile, Mineral Mondays offer an opportunity for museum-goers to learn more about rocks and minerals. At 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 26, “Fossil or Pseudo-Fossil" – will focus on the differences between rocks and fossils with Naturalist Center Manager Mike Sanchez. After this brief talk, visitors can explore tables of examples and consult on their own finds. On Monday, July 24, 3:00 p.m., “Meteorite vs. Meteor-wrong" will explore ways to tell if your specimen is truly out of this world with Museum Geologist Jayne Aubele.  

Mineral Mondays are free to the public. Please visit nmnaturalhistory.org/events/mineral-monday to register. And check out the museum’s online calendar to learn more about both exciting new programs! 

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and the large format 3D Verus Research DynaTheater.