Welcome to the Frosty Drew Observatory Stargazing Nights - Holiday Stargazing Spectacular! Every Friday night (weather permitting) we open our Observatory, Sky Theatre, and telescopes to the skies and offer free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.
Tonight we will open around 7:00 pm with views of the beautiful night sky over Ninigret Park that will rock your night. The Observatory will be dressed up in holiday decor with festive seasonal music, and much cheer to go around. Hang out with our astronomers and telescopes as we showcase a holiday view of the Moon, dazzling planets, bright stars, speckled star clusters, mesmerizing nebulae, and vast galaxies. A perfect dive into holiday bliss.
A ticket is required for admission at this event!
Important information about tickets:
- A ticket is required for each person in your party / group that is over four years of age.
- Tickets must be purchased beforehand online.
- Tickets will be checked at the Observatory main gate, either electronically or physically.
- The name on the ticket must match the name of the ticket holder.
- Tickets are non-refundable.
- We cannot guarantee the weather, and telescope observation is very dependent on sky conditions.
- All ticket holders can stay on the campus for the entire duration of the event.
Tickets will be posted here when ticket sales open.
Telescope observation will depend on weather conditions, though the event will happen regardless of weather.
Be sure to subscribe to the Frosty Drew Observatory mailing list, follow us on Twitter (@FrostyDrewOBSY) or on Facebook to receive status updates about our Stargazing Nights program.
If you are looking for that awesome astronomy thing to do or just want a night out to experience the cosmos under the darkest skies in Rhode Island, than this is your chance.
Check out our page on Visiting Frosty Drew Observatory to learn more about what to expect at the Observatory and better help you prepare for your visit.
How to Dress for Winter Conditions: The Frosty Drew Observatory is not climate controlled, and the temperatures inside the dome need to match the outside air temperature for a stable telescopic view. Frosty Drew Astronomy Team members dress in layers during the winter and for a very good reason. You should consider doing the same. Please read Dressing for All-Night Winter Stargazing to familiarize yourself with adequate dressing measures.
Please note that we do not allow any white lights on our campus or in Ninigret Park from dusk - dawn, with the exception of low beam headlights while in motion. This is to ensure an equally awesome view of the night sky for all and to allow for the use of light sensitive astronomical equipment. Learn more about why we have this requirement in The Red Light District.
Image Credit: This week's image is Wishing Upon A Star by Caoimhe Aisling