Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, May 12, 2023 8:30 pm - 10:30 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 partly cloudy sky conditions with overcast conditions setting in overnight. Now that the waning crescent Moon has retreated into the morning sky, we’ll have dark sky conditions once twilight wanes. Even with clouds moving in, Venus should be in good viewing. Having a light cloud layer present when viewing Venus improves that view, because Venus is so bright. Regarding dark sky awesomeness, the partly cloudy conditions will likely become problematic. The past couple events at Frosty Drew were much less overcast than expected, with last week being completely clear, despite forecasters calling for clouds. So the night could work out better than expected, maybe. Regardless, we will give it a go, and see how it works out.

We’ll open the Observatory, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 8:30 pm tonight. In the Observatory we’ll direct our 24 inch telescope towards Venus, which is sporting a 61% waning crescent phase. Depending on how clear the sky is, our next targets could be fabulous star clusters and galaxies. Otherwise, we will fall back to binary star systems. In the Science Center our usual exhibits will be on display alongside select astrophotos captured by the Frosty Drew Astronomy Team. In the Sky Theatre we will show a feature of celestial images captured at Frosty Drew Observatory. Our close up time tonight is 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight is probably going to be a bit cloudy. There really isn’t any variability in the forecasts we are seeing, which is where we usually score. If making the long drive, you may want to sit this one out. The Moon is in the right phase, but the weather is just not cooperating. Though if you are in the area, views of Venus could be quite fantastic tonight. So swing over, check out the telescope, chat with our astronomers, and lament the clouds of 2023 with us.

Tickets are not required for visitors to attend this event.

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.

Take a moment to catch up on some celestial happenings this week in:
A Celebration of Space - may 12, 2023

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 Prepare for Springtime Conditions: The Frosty Drew Observatory is located inside Ninigret Park and borders the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. Insects and arachnids are a concern when visiting the Frosty Drew campus. We have observed mosquitoes, green head flies, deer flies, ticks, biting ants, and more. Please read the Mosquitoes and Insects section on our Visiting the Observatory page to familiarize yourself with adequate preparation 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.