Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory

When:

Friday November 28, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.

Cost:

$1 Suggested Donation per Person

Tonight's forecast of clear skies and cold temps will set us up for another awesome night of stargazing. After sunset, the 47% waxing crescent Moon will be hanging in the southern sky showing off its sexy late autumn glow. As the night progresses, the crescent Moon will set into the Western sky, dropping out of view at 11:00 p.m. After which, fantastically dark skies will prevail. We plan to open the Observatory and Sky Theatre at 6:30 p.m. tonight. In the Observatory, telescopes will be directed towards the waxing crescent Moon, the fabulous binary star Alberio, Uranus, and more. Once the Moon sets we will showcase stunning views of nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. The Sky Theatre will be open and toasty warm with a fabulous slide show of astrophotos we shoot at Frosty Drew on display. Dress for Winter conditions as temps will drop into the low 20's tonight. Winter coats, gloves, and hats are a necessity to keep warm and comfortable.

Though it will be cold tonight, it will be a beautifully stunning night under the Charlestown, Rhode Island starscape!

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Weekly Happenings
Scott MacNeill

This coming Thursday, December 4 at 7:05 a.m. EST, the Orion Crew Module is scheduled for its first flight test. Launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, the test will carry the Orion spacecraft 3,600 miles above Earth for a period of 4.5 hours, completing two orbits. During the test, Orion will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at near 20,000 mph, exposing itself to near 4,000ºF temperatures. During re-entry, measurements will be taken of the environment inside the crew module to help us better understand the type of conditions astronauts will be exposed to. The Orion spacecraft is designed as the next NASA spacecraft to carry astronauts to space. The crew module will be a critical piece in transportation of humans to an asteroid, Mars, and beyond. Though no human passengers are scheduled for Thursdays test, many mementos and inspirational themes, including a microchip containing the names of over 1 million people, will be along for the ride. Check out the Trial By Fire video that describes what Orion is up against in its first flight test. Then tune in to NASA TV on Thursday morning to catch a teaser of the future of American astronaut space travel!

-Scott