Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Aug 11, 2023 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

SOLD OUT - Get on the Wait list.

Welcome to the Frosty Drew Summer 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.

Please read our statement regarding 2023 events and weather at Frosty Drew.

Tonight is the first night of the Perseid Meteor Shower peak, which brings upwards of 100 additional meteors to the sky. Tonight’s forecast is calling for mostly clear to clear sky conditions, which is fantastic considering we do not have the Moon present until the 12% waning gibbous rises at 1:49 am. What that means is that we will have fabulous views of the Milky Way silhouetted by shooting stars. What a night to be out!

We will open the Observatory, Courtyard, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 6:30 pm this afternoon. In the Courtyard we will have our solar telescopes set up on the Sun. If you haven’t seen a sunspot or the plasma of the Sun, then today is your chance. Once the Sun starts to set, we will direct our telescopes towards binary stars like Albireo and Rasalgethi. When twilight starts to wane, our telescopes will rock the Milky Way, showing off views of star clusters, nebulae, white dwarf stars, and more. The Ring Nebula, Messier 27 white dwarf, Swan Nebula, the huge Messier 22 globular cluster, and more are on the list. Around 9:30 pm, Saturn will become visible to our Courtyard telescopes and will rock your socks with a first season view for Frosty Drew. In the Sky Theatre, NASA Solar System Ambassador, Frank Puglia, will host presentations on the James Webb Space Telescope, the upcoming solar eclipses, and dark sky preservation. In the Science Center, exhibits will be on display about all things astrophysical, including an interactive area for children. We’ll have Story Time Under the Willow, and numerous telescopes and activities for visitors tonight. We’ll close up at 11:00 pm, but will probably stick around longer to watch the Perseid shower.

Overall, tonight looks amazing! We’ll have super dark sky conditions with the Milky Way and Perseid meteors present. If making the long drive tonight is the night to do so. It should be noted that tickets are required for visitors to attend tonight’s event, and at this time, the event has sold out. There is a partner event occurring tonight in Ninigret Park that is being hosted by The Charlestown RI Dark Sky Advocates, which does not require tickets, and will get you out under the stars to see Perseid meteors. In any case, tonight looks amazing, and we are ready at Frosty Drew to introduce you to your inner geek.

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT
If you do not have a ticket, you cannot attend tonight's event. You can put your name on the wait list if a ticket becomes available, but you cannot attend without a ticket, even if you are on the wait list. Please do not just show up and argue with our astronomers. That is just not cool! There will be several other events this summer.

Get on the Wait List

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 space happenings this week in:
A Celebration of Space - August 11, 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 Summer 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.

Read about our Observatory Dome Access Passes, which are available on a first come first serve basis.

How to Prepare for Summertime 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 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.