Stargazing Nights

Stargazing Nights

Where:
Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center
When:
Fri, Oct 15, 2021 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Cost:
$5 Suggested Donation per person 5 years and older

Welcome to the Frosty Drew Observatory Stargazing Nights! Every Friday night (weather permitting) we open our Observatory, Science Center, Sky Theatre, and telescopes to the sky and offer free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight is the start of the worldwide International Observe the Moon Night events, which Frosty Drew takes part in celebrating. Forecasts for tonight are calling for partly cloudy conditions with fog moving in overnight. We will have the bright 78% waxing gibbous Moon out for our entire session, which will put on a stunning view of the cratered lunar surface. 60% - 85% waxing gibbous is the best phase to observe the Moon because the best craters are all along the lunar terminator, which is the line that separates the day and night regions of the Moon. Along this region the most extreme shadows are cast, allowing for depth of field to be observed. Even with a threat of clouds and haze, we should be able to rock the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn.

We will open the Observatory, Observatory Courtyard, Lunar Lounge, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 7:00 pm tonight. In the Observatory we will show a video featurette about the Moon on our 40” display panel. As the telescope replacement project is ongoing, this is also a chance to check out the dome without a telescope! The Observatory Courtyard will have several telescopes set up on the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and anything else that is visible. In the Lunar Lounge a live view of the Moon will be projected onto the NW wall. The Science Center will have our 12 foot wide panoramic exhibit of the Apollo 11 landing site on display alongside other exhibits and astronomical works. In the Sky Theatre a slideshow of celestial objects photographed by Frosty Drew Astronomers will be presented on screen. We will stick around until 10:00 pm.

Overall, tonight may not be a fantastic night, but with tomorrow’s weather looking much worse for the official International Observe the Moon Night, tonight will be the better of the two nights. If the Moon is your secret crush, then it may be worth making the long drive. But keep in mind that weather could crash the geek-out. Regardless, it should be a fun night out with the Moon. Additionally, the ongoing conjunction of the Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter will put on a stunning show tonight, a perfect set up for celebrating the Moon. So make it a night to either crush on the Moon, or become introduced to Earth’s only natural satellite at Frosty Drew tonight.

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 and more.

Take a moment to catch up on some awesome happenings in space this week in:
A Celebration of Space - October 15, 2021

Check out our page on Visiting Frosty Drew Observatory to learn more about what to expect at the Observatory and to better help you prepare for your visit.

Please note that we do not allow any white lights on our campus from dusk - dawn. 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.

If you are looking for that awesome astronomy thing to do or just want a night out to experience the cosmos under the darkest sky in Rhode Island, then this is your chance.

Please note that due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the detail of this event may change. Please check in regularly, both here and on our SARS-CoV-2 page, to stay up to date.