Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Aug 25, 2023 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

Tickets are NOT required to attend Please read below.

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's forecast is a total wash out. We can expect rain showers, t-storms, patchy fog, and gusty winds. All of which will make telescope observation quite difficult. Regardless, we will still open tonight on a modified schedule.

Starting at 6:30 pm the Observatory, Sky Theatre, and Science Center will be open to the public. In the Observatory, tours of our 24 inch PlaneWave telescope will be available with the lights on. In the Science Center, exhibits will be on display with astronomers present to talk about what you are seeing, as well as talk about current events in astronomy. In the Sky Theatre, NASA Solar System Ambassador, Frank Puglia, will be speaking about the James Webb Space Telescope, the NASA DART mission, and more. We will close up around 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight is certainly not the night to make the long drive. Rain and clouds will keep our telescopes closed, and any prospect of being able to observe is pretty much non-existent. If you are in the local area, tonight will be a good opportunity to catch up on some astronomy, learn from Frank Puglia about the state of high profile NASA missions, and to get a close up of how the Frosty Drew telescope works. So swing on by and lament the cloudy sky 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.

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.