Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Mar 29, 2024 8:00 pm - 10:30 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 forecasts are calling for clear sky conditions once clouds move out, as well as some rather windy conditions. The 83% waning gibbous Moon will not rise until 11:57 pm, which will keep the sky super dark for our stellar celebrations. Clouds should clear out within the first hour of our session, but wind could cause some issues on site. Regardless, we will work with what we have and make a best effort attempt.

We’ll open the Observatory, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 8:00 pm tonight. In the Observatory, the large 24 inch telescope will start off with views of multiple star systems, including Gamma Leo, Castor, and Beta Monoceros. Once twilight wanes, we’ll direct the telescope towards the Messier 46 open star cluster, NGC 2392 – a young white dwarf star, the Messier 67 open star cluster, the Ghost of Jupiter white dwarf, the Messier 3 globular star cluster, and perhaps some galaxies. In the Sky Theatre, we will show our regular feature of celestial objects photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory. We’ll close up at 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight looks to have a stunning sky to observe. No Moon and no clouds equal amazing things at Frosty Drew. The issue with tonight’s conditions will be the wind. Depending on how windy it is, we could be restricted to one side of the sky, which will reduce our visibility. Also, seeing conditions, which is a measure of how much the disturbances in the atmosphere will affect our telescope’s focus, could be pretty poor. Regardless, naked eye views of the night sky will be fantastic, and we will welcome any opportunity to observe a clear dark sky. So swing by and have a night out under the stars 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 sky in Rhode Island, then this is your chance.

Take a moment to catch up on some important happenings at Frosty Drew this coming week in:
A Celebration of Space - March 29, 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.