Tonight's sky conditions don't look very good for observing right now, but keep looking up, and follow the @FrostyDrewOBSY Twitter to be sure of our status tonight. But, even though there might be clouds, we have two very bright Iridium flares that quite possibly could be able to be seen if the skies aren't totally overcast. Both will be visible about 10 degrees above the western horizon, at 10:35 and 10:45 P.M., and will be brighter than anything in the sky except the Moon.

We hope you saw the crescent Moon Tuesday night as it passed between out nighttime planets Mars and Saturn. As the Moon was at its first quarter phase yesterday, it is now on its way to Full Moon, on the first of August, next Wednesday. And, of course, the two night planets will be in our sky for awhile longer.

Morning planets Venus and Jupiter are still beautiful in the east, but notice how much they are now separating. Keep watching them, for Jupiter, which is in one of our winter constellations, Taurus, the Bull, will be soon starting to appear in our nighttime sky.

Science education lost one of its best advocates this week, with the passing of Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman astronaut in space. Her ride on the STS-7 Space Shuttle mission marked the beginning of women traveling on the Shuttle on a routine basis, and her efforts to keep science alive in the schools made her an inspiration for science educators everywhere.

We at Frosty Drew are gearing up for this Saturday's Sea Star Market Place, a chance for all of you to come and see some of our best artisans in the community. You might just be able to find that set of gifts for the persons you just seem to be hard to shop for. Come join us as we also will have activities for children, a lecture by guest speaker Dr. Giovanni Fazio of Harvard University, for all ages, and, of course, a chance to spend a beautiful day in the Park with your friends, as you all do your part to keep Frosty Drew's mission of science education alive. See you then!

-Francine Jackson

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Tonight's forecast, as usual, is calling for clouds and t-storms so the likelihood of the observatory opening tonight is small. If weather or night photography is your thing then be sure to come out to Frosty Drew tonight with your gear. Ninigret park offers fantastic near 360º views of the sky and is a great place to photograph lightning. Visit the Frosty Drew Observatory Facebook page for images of lightning from last nights storms.

Tomorrow night just after midnight till Dawn Sunday morning the S. Delta-Aquarid meteor shower will peak. This meteor shower could produce upwards of 20 meteors per hour. Again, New England skies will deny us the ability to watch this meteor shower, but if you are under clear skies be sure to grab a lawn chair or blanket and lie out under the stars to catch a glimpse of this meteor shower. We may feel quite deprived of meteor awesomeness under our frequently cloudy New England skies but I can take solace with that during a time of devastating drought conditions across much of the U.S.

Be sure to stop in tomorrow at Frosty Drew for the Sea Star Marketplace. Check out some crafts and arts then catch a lecture from Dr. Fazio of Harvard University.

-Scott MacNeill