Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Apr 8, 2022 8:00 pm - 10:30 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's forecasts are looking quite good. We can expect fog, and clouds to clear out by early this afternoon with clear sky conditions setting in. The clear conditions should last until near 1:00 am, after which, forecasts begin to degrade. We’ll have the somewhat bright First Quarter Moon tonight, which will offer up fantastic views of the cratered lunar surface. The First Quarter Moon allows for interesting views along the lunar terminator, which is the line that separates the daytime area from the nighttime area. This is where the best features are visible because sunlight shines across the surface, instead of at the surface, allowing for shadows to cast. These shadows give depth of field to the view. There are two features that occur around the First Quarter Moon, where only parts of crater rims are in sunlight, but the crater floor and surrounding landscapes are still in shadow. When this happens we see the Lunar X and Lunar V. Perhaps we will catch a view of these features tonight.

We will open the Observatory and Sky Theatre at 8:00 pm tonight. In the Observatory we will direct our 24 inch PlaneWave telescope to the sky, showcasing the First Quarter Moon, open star clusters, binary stars, and anything else we can get into view. In the Sky Theatre we will show a feature of celestial images captured by the Frosty Drew Astronomy Team. The Science Center is still under construction, and will remain closed tonight. Though we hope to have it back open for next Friday, April 15th. We will stay open until 10:30 pm tonight.

Overall, tonight’s forecast is looking quite good. We will have the First Quarter Moon, which will brighten up the sky a bit, and outshine many dim objects like galaxies and nebulae. Though at First Quarter, it is not too bright, and will also offer up fantastic views of the lunar surface. If making the long drive, tonight is probably a good night to do so, as forecasts for clearer sky conditions appear to be quite stable. Just keep in mind that the Moon will brighten the sky, so don’t expect a view of thousands of stars tonight. In any case, set out and have a night with the new PlaneWave telescope, the Moon, and anything else the cosmos offers, at Frosty Drew Observatory tonight!

Take a moment to catch up on some awesome happenings in space this week in:
A Celebration of Space - April 8, 2022

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.

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.

It is cold at Frosty Drew Observatory during the winter and early spring. Visitors will be completely exposed to the harsh winter environment while standing on frozen ground. Dressing properly is REQUIRED to attend! Lean how the Frosty Drew Astronomers dress for working overnight on the Frosty Drew campus during the winter. Read it! Follow it!

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.