Stargazing Nights

Stargazing Nights

Where:
Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center
When:
Fri, Mar 17, 2023 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
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's forecasts are calling for overcast conditions with rain moving in overnight. At times, we may see a few breaks in the clouds, though probably nothing that will allow for a telescopic view. This is unfortunate as the Moon has departed the night sky, with the 13% waning crescent not rising until 5:31 am, which would have brought fantastically dark sky conditions tonight.

We will open the Observatory, Science Center, and Sky Theatre with our cloudy night program at 7:30 pm tonight. In the Observatory, tours of our 24 inch PlaneWave telescope and operations will be available. This is a good opportunity for the geeks to get a close up view of the observatory with the lights on. In the Science Center we will have exhibits on display with an astronomy on hand to offer commentary. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured by the Frosty Drew Astronomy Team. We will close up at 9:30 pm.

Overall, tonight is not the night to make the long drive, as it will be overcast. We are not planning to observe with our telescopes, and instead will open with tours of our equipment and campus. If you are in the local area, and have a free night, stop in for a chance to catch up with our astronomers. Otherwise, sit this one our until we get clearer sky conditions.

Tickets are not required for visitors to attend this event.

Take a moment to catch up on the shift into spring in this week's:
A Celebration of Space - March 17, 2023

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.