Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory

When:

Friday February 22, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

Cost:

Free! Donations Appreciated.

Here at Frosty Drew Observatory, we're getting to the point where we're finding it almost impossible to state whether we will open until we actually find ourselves on the property. The past several weeks the weather has been so different from the prediction, that we probably should just have you check the web site or @FrostyDrewOBSY on twitter to be sure. If we do open, the Moon and Jupiter will be featured, as the Moon, which is now in its waxing gibbous phase, is getting too bright to allow us to see all but the brighter of the deep-sky objects.

We're having more people come to enjoy the programs at the URI planetarium each month. Our next show will be Friday, March 8th, at 6:00 P.M. On that night, we will show Cosmic Colors, a trip through the spectrum, and its corresponding electromagnetic radiation. This family presentation is only $5.00 per person, to benefit both the Frosty Drew and URI Planetarium funds.

As to the giant meteorite that landed in Russia last Friday, yes, it is always possible it could happen elsewhere. The space rock, which is reported to have weighed more than 10,000 tons, was not related to our celestial visitor 2012 DA14, the asteroid that literally came closer to the Earth's surface than some of our satellites; their back-to-back appearances were merely a coincidence. However, the Earth is always getting pelted with space debris, to equal several tons per day - though not all at once. This should give you cause to look up at and enjoy the sky, and, while you're doing so, keep watch. There's no telling what you might see.

We proud to be located at the darkest skies in Rhode Island. Please, when the weather is clear, join us for a beautiful view overhead.

-Francine Jackson

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Tonight's forecast is calling for the usual partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies. The 90% waxing gibbous Moon will be with us until 4:11 a.m. making faint nebulae and galaxies a tough target. We will closely monitor the skies and attempt to open the observatory shortly after 6:00 p.m.. Check the Frosty Drew Observatory website or the @FrostyDrewOBSY for status updates before making the trip out.

This past Tuesday, a new sunspot group, AR 1678, quickly formed and has since grown to over six Earth diameters. This sunspot quickly evolved into a delta region, which are known for creating strong solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance that this region will produce an M-flare and a 15% chance of an X-flare sometime today. Watch the formation of this huge sunspot group.

So far this has been an awesome year for astronomy! With the record setting pass of Asteroid 2012 DA14, The Great Russian Meteor of 2013 (which happened on the same day as the passing of 2012 DA14), The Sun reaching solar maximum, Comet Panstarrs which will be visible at Frosty Drew in March, and the highly anticipated Comet ISON which will be visible at Frosty Drew in November; 2013 has really set the stage and answered the call for awesomeness. Lets hope for clear skies going forward this year and be sure to keep your eyes to the sky as amazing things are happening!

-Scott MacNeill