Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Feb 2, 2024 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation Per Person

Welcome to the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center's Stargazing Nights! Every Friday night (weather permitting) we open our Observatory, Science Center, Sky Theatre, and telescopes to the sky and offer free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are calling for periodic rain showers with mostly cloudy to full overcast conditions. There is a slight chance that we may have a clearing in the last 30-60 minutes of our event, though the threat of rain showers will keep the Observatory roof closed. Considering that the 43% waning crescent Moon will rise at 1:02 pm, dark sky conditions will prevail, just on the other side of the clouds. Even though we are doubtful that we will be opening our telescopes, we will still open tonight.

Starting at 7:00 pm the Observatory, Science Center, and Sky Theatre will open. In the Observatory we will offer tours of the large telescope and observatory with the lights on. This will give visitors a chance to check out how everything works in the observatory. The Science Center will have exhibits on display about the Moon, the Messier catalog, and more. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial images captured at Frosty Drew Observatory with a commentary. We will close up at 10:00 pm.

Overall, tonight is certainly not the night to make the long drive. Clouds have persisted over our region for weeks now, and even though the sky will clear overnight tonight, it will likely not happen until after our event has ended. If you’re in the local area and don’t have plans, tonight could be a good night to catch up on some astro with our astronomers. On the off chance that the sky ends up clearing out earlier than expected, and the dome is not too wet, we will open the main telescope to the night sky. So swing by and make it a night to catch up on some astronomy. Even if just to spite the clouds.

Tickets are not required for visitors to attend this event. Admission is free, though a suggested donation of $5 per person, at the event, is very appreciated.

If you are looking for that awesome astronomy thing to do or just want a night out to experience the cosmos under the darkest sky in Rhode Island, then this is your chance.

Take a moment to catch up on some happenings in space in:
A Celebration of Space - February 2, 2024

Be sure to subscribe to the Frost Drew Observatory mailing list and follow us on Instagram 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 temperature 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.