New Exhibit Grand Opening
Saturday, May 2, 2026
10AM - 5PM
Mysteries of the Cosmos: Life in the Universe
A new astronomy, exoplanet, and extraterrestrial communication research exhibit in Tucson, Mysteries of the Cosmos: Life in the Universe is filled with interactive experiences and universe-expanding content highlighting real-world research at the University of Arizona and beyond.
To all who gaze into the night sky and wonder, “Are we alone in the universe?”—this is your invitation. Join us on a journey from desert skies to distant worlds as you explore that timeless question in an all-new exhibit celebrating the wonders of space and the search for life beyond Earth.
🎟️ Regular admission of $5 (members) to $27 applies. See ticket page for all rates and discounts.
Grand Opening Exclusives
✨First 50 guests receive a free Galactic Goodie Bag with fun items and swag inside
🪪Enter to win a free Constellation Family Membership
🌌Special Astronomy Discovery walk-up activities (like gravity well simulations!)
Saturday May 2, 2026 only!
Explore the biggest questions in the Universe
From the desert, go the distance
Start your journey by admiring a a 12.5 ft. tall sculpture of a saguaro cactus and a huge print of one of award-winning photographer Sean Parker's starry night photos as you approach the entrance to the exhibit.
Launch into space
Begin your mission by trying to build a multi-stage rocket launch. Engineer this simulation (it's not easy!) and try to get your rocket to low Earth orbit or all the way to Mars.
Make observations
Learn about how the world's most powerful telescopes are teaching us more about deep space than ever before and hear directly from scientists and researchers in the video kiosk.
Look into exoplanet atmospheres
Step up to an astrophysicist's desk and use real James Webb Space Telescope data to find out if exoplanets have the atmospheres necessary to support life.
Meet your alien avatar
Wave hello to a life-sized alien form that mirrors your movements in real time. Transforms into one of 16 highly detailed and fluid 3D renderings of possible life forms shaped by the unique environments of terrestrial planets, super earths, Neptunian worlds, and gas giants.
Listen closely to what's beyond
Listen in live to the powerful antenna arrays used in SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) research. Flandrau is the only science center in the world with this live feed! Will you hear something out of this world?
Peer Beyond Our Galaxy
Step into the curious realm of hunting for exoplanets and solar systems beyond our own and realize the infinite amount of possibilities that lie beyond our realm of knowledge. Immersive projections surround you and astronomer Kevin Hainline narrates in this beach scene that relates the grains of sands of Earth to every possible habitable planet.
Explore more mysteries...
We can't wait to have you experience Flandrau's newest exhibit. If you can't wait to buy exhibit tickets, save some time and buy online! Exhibits-only tickets are now available for purchase (make sure to purchase for May 2).
If you want to see a planetarium show while you're here, see the section below for all-inclusive tickets.
Opening Day Planetarium Showtimes
Add a planetarium show to your day!
All planetarium tickets for May 2 include access to Mysteries of the Cosmos and all other exhibits
May 2 Showtimes
11AM - Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Journey into the mysterious world of black holes in this visually stunning, immersive show. Featuring cosmic simulations and narrated by Liam Neeson, explore star birth and death, colliding galaxies, and a thrilling dive into our galaxy’s core.
Audience: General, all ages
Style: Fulldome film + live star talk
12:30PM - We Are Stars
A fun, beautifully animated fulldome show about cosmic chemistry and our explosive origins—revealing how hydrogen and carbon formed in the universe and how we are, quite literally, made of stars!
Audience: Younger Audiences
Style: Fulldome film + live star talk
2PM - (NEW!) Dark Biosphere
Deep beneath the earth's crust, hundreds of kilometres below the surface, with no light, no air, and very little water, in pores and fissures of hard rock, scientists have found an enormous biodiversity of micro-organisms that thrive in extreme conditions.
The Dark Biosphere challenges everything we thought we knew and challenges us to rethink not only the origin and evolution of life on Earth but its possible existence throughout the Universe.
3:30PM Tucson Sky & Beyond
Sit back and relax for this popular live show as one of our Console Captains guides you through the night sky from a Tucson perspective, pointing out stars, planets, constellations, and current celestial events. Then, take a cosmic leap beyond our solar system to explore the universe’s distant wonders.
Audience: General, all ages
Style: Live star talk
5PM (New!) Laser Galaxy Far Away
Cap off your day with a cosmic playlist laser show, blasting space-themed tracks from David Bowie, Beastie Boys, and more—alongside iconic sounds from Star Wars (perfect timing for May the Fourth).
Show up early to explore the Mysteries of the Cosmos because it closes at 5PM!
Thank you to the generous donors whose support made this exhibit possible
Presented by:
Michael & Beth Kasser
Ruth McCormick Tankersley Charitable Trust
Armstrong McDonald Foundation
Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation
With support from:
Walter & Juliet Absolon Foundation
Joseph Stanley Leeds Foundation
Stellar Questions, Answers, and Interactions Await
More experiences are waiting to be discovered when you visit Mysteries of the Cosmos: Life in The Universe, opening Saturday, May 2, 2026.