Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory

When:

Friday November 25, 2016 - CLOSED

Cost:

$1 Suggested Donation per Person

Tonight is Stargazing Night at Frosty Drew Observatory and overcast skies with periods of drizzle will hammer our plans for a fabulous night under the stars. Though we have had three consecutive Fridays with great viewing conditions, the departure of the Moon this week is what we have been waiting for. Tonight’s Moon will take on a beautiful 7% waning crescent, rising around 4:00 a.m. That is the type of night to die for at Frosty Drew, where an ocean of stars stretch across the sky, leaving viewers entranced in the vast expanse.

Due to the dismal forecast, Frosty Drew Observatory will remain closed tonight. We will return to our regular Stargazing Nights schedule on Friday, December 2, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

In Rhode Island, second chances rock! The smallest state in the nation certainly has quite a robust astronomy community with numerous observatories offering up free stargazing experiences on a weekly basis as well as many of the state’s astronomers putting on special stargazing events. One such event is happening tomorrow night (Saturday, November 26). Starting at 6:00 p.m., the South Kingstown Land Trust will be hosting a bonfire with s’mores and more. Frosty Drew Observatory will be there with a telescope or two offering up fabulous views of the night sky over South Kingstown. Though weather looks rather dismal during the day tomorrow, things should clear up just in time. Check out the South Kingstown Land Trust website for additional information and directions, then celebrate second chances with a night of s’mores and stargazing by the fire, a perfect addition to the frivolities of your holiday weekend.

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Weekly Happenings
Scott MacNeill

During Stargazing Nights at Frosty Drew Observatory we always showcase a handful of stunning binary stars in our telescopes. Binary stars and star systems comprised of multiple stars make up about 68% of all star systems in the Milky Way galaxy. A binary or multiple star is a star system comprised of two or more stars that share a common center point of gravity, called a barycenter. Each stellar component will orbit around this barycenter, essentially orbiting around each other. One such binary system is the second brightest star in the constellation Perseus, commonly named Algol - The Demon Star.

Like many binary stars, Algol is not a visible binary, where multiple stars are visible separately in a telescope, though it is an eclipsing binary. This means that Algol's stellar components orbit their barycenter on the same plane that we view the star, causing one star to visibly pass in front of the other during their orbital period. As a result, Algol substantially dims in brightness during the eclipse period. The orbital period of the Algol system is about three days with the actual eclipsing period (dimming period) taking about 9.5 hours to complete. These short periods occasionally allow Algol to visibly change from its brightest to its dimmest then back to its brightest over the course of one night when viewed during the darker half of the year. The dimming will not be very noticeable under constant observation, though within two hours of the dimmest point, viewing on 15 minute intervals will show noticeable differences in brightness. At its dimmest point, Algol will be over 3 times dimmer than it is at its brightest.

The next couple weeks will bring several opportunities to see Algol dim to its minimum brightness then brighten back to maximum. One of these all night viewing opportunities happens tonight, with a second opportunity happening on Monday night, November 28th. Algol’s minimum brightness tonight will happen at 11:13 p.m. and Monday’s will happen at 8:02 p.m. Set out about two hours before minimum and locate Algol, it will be high enough to be visible from most locations. Once identified, take a look at Algol on 15 minute intervals over the next four hours and compare its brightness to the stars around it. You will notice that Algol will become quite dim comparably and then brighten back up. December 13th at 4:07 a.m. and December 16th at 12:56 a.m. will offer up an additional two chances to catch Algol drop to minimum. Check out the star chart of Algol’s position in Perseus, then set out for a view of one of the most interesting binary star systems in the night sky.

As we wind down from the feasting and family of the Thanksgiving holiday, our thoughts turn to the frenzied shopping days that follow as we settle into the bacchanalia of tree trimmings, hot drinks, and holiday cheer. The Tuesday following Thanksgiving is called Giving Tuesday, a day that small 501 (c) (3) organizations, like Frosty Drew Observatory, humbly request support in the form of tax-deductible contributions. At Frosty Drew Observatory we strive to bring the awesomeness of astronomical science to all with the hope of being your first contact with astronomy and the night sky. It is a huge honor for us and we put forth our best efforts to make that first contact a memorable and inspiring experience. Please consider supporting Frosty Drew Observatory and our efforts during this Holiday Season. There are many ways you can support Frosty Drew Observatory from financial donations to equipment donations. Though if neither option is a reality for you, there is a way you can support us while shopping online at Amazon. Frosty Drew Memorial Fund, Inc. is listed as an eligible charitable organization on Amazon Smile. If you are an Amazon.com shopper and are not already associated with a charitable organization on Amazon Smile, please consider supporting Frosty Drew. No matter what contribution you make, even if it’s a visit to the Observatory for a fabulous night out with us, we are better because of you! Without the support of amazing people, our mission would not be possible and your support means the world to us!

-Scott