Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Oct 13, 2023 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation Per Person, Registration Required

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 Friday the 13th. Interestingly enough, forecasts are looking quite good for tonight, which is a huge shift from the regular weekend forecast of clouds and rain that we have had. Perhaps Friday the 13th this October is a bonus for us? Regardless, we can expect mostly clear sky conditions with some passing clouds. Considering that the new Moon occurs tomorrow (hint: solar eclipse), we will have super dark sky conditions for the entire night. Additionally, we will have a special guest tonight at Frosty Drew. Miss United States is touring through our region, and will stop in at Frosty Drew tonight to speak about her job as a scientist, sign autograph cards, and take pics with visitors. Certainly a fantastic night to kick off a weekend of astro geekery!

We’ll open the Observatory, Courtyard, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 7:00 pm tonight. In the Observatory, the large 24 inch telescope will start with views of Saturn’s rings and moons. As the night progresses we’ll direct the big telescope towards nebulae and star clusters, wrapping up the night with a stunning view of Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons. Courtyard telescopes will hunt down nebulae and star clusters, while occasionally swinging by the planets. In the Science Center, Miss United States will be set up to greet visitors. We’ll also have our usual exhibits on display including Project Comet Chaser – a rocket that has been to space. In the Sky Theatre we will show our featurette about the Sun as we gear up for tomorrow’s solar eclipse. We’ll close up at 10:00 pm.

Overall, tonight is looking quite excellent. We can expect mostly clear sky conditions with no Moon present. Having no Moon means that we can view the dimmest objects in our telescopes as well as have a view of thousands of stars overhead. Ninigret Park is one of the darkest spots in Southern New England, and tonight will tell the story. Additionally, tonight is your chance to meet Miss United States – Lily K. Donaldson, who is also a scientist. So stop in and grab a much needed astro-bump on this unusually clear Friday night, and gear up for tomorrow’s solar eclipse at Frosty Drew tonight.

Additionally, we will have a special guest at this event. Miss United States - Lily K. Donaldson will be set up in the Science Center talking about her job as a scientist, taking pics, and signing autograph cards. All visitors will have a chance to meet with Lily!

Tickets are required for visitors to attend this event. Tickets are free, though a suggested donation of $5 per person, either online or at the event, is very appreciated.

Get Tickets Here

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 tomorrow's solar eclipse and more in:
A Celebration of Space - October 13, 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.

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

How to Prepare for Autumn 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.