Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jan 6, 2023 - CLOSED

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation Per Person

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 skies and offer free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight is the first Stargazing Nights event of 2023, and in true New England style, we are clouded out. We can expect fog, and overcast conditions tonight, after four days of rain. Considering that the full Moon occurs tonight, we really aren’t missing out on much aside from the planets. The bright full Moon will significantly outshine everything but the brightest objects in the sky. Which makes the full Moon one of the worst nights to be out stargazing. That is, unless the Moon is your secret crush, then it’s obviously the night to be out.

Due to the rather dismal forecast of late, and the temperatures dropping to the freezing point for some of the more northern locations, we are going to keep the Observatory and Science Center closed tonight. We will attempt to open next on Friday, January 13, 2023 for our regular Stargazing Nights event. We’ll see you then!

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, then this is your chance.

Be sure to subscribe to the Frost Drew Observatory mailing list, follow us on Twitter (@FrostyDrewOBSY) or on Facebook to receive status updates about our Stargazing Nights program and more.

Preparing for Your Visit:

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.