Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jun 28, 2024 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

This Event Has Sold Out

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 sky and offer free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are calling for increasing clouds shortly after sunset, with conditions becoming partly cloudy, then eventually overcast towards the morning predawn hours. Considering that the 41% waning crescent Moon does not rise until 12:42 am, super dark sky conditions are in store for us. What will make or break the night is the cloud increase, when it happens, and how heavy the clouds will be. There is some variability regarding the timing of incoming clouds, which could work well for us. Regardless, we will give it a go.

We’ll open at 6:30 pm in the Observatory Courtyard with views of the Sun. Our Type II White Light telescope and Hydrogen Alpha telescope will be set up offering stunning views of sunspots and the Sun’s magnetic field lines. When the Sun sets we will switch over to night sky mode starting with binary stars. As twilight wanes we will direct our telescopes towards nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. In the Science Center we will have exhibits on display. The Sky Theatre will host Frosty Drew Observatory Director, Scott MacNeill, who will present on the prospects of alien life and the limitations in finding it. Over the course of the event we will host Story Time Under the Willow with a family friendly story, features of celestial images captured at Frosty Drew Observatory on-screen in the Sky Theatre, and more. We’ll stay open until 11:00 pm.

Overall, tonight is looking like an okay night. If clouds stay out it will be fabulous, though all forecast sources are calling for some level of cloud cover. Tickets are required for visitors to attend tonight’s event, and tickets can be acquired at: https://frostydrew.org/Stargazing-Nights. If making the long drive, keep in mind that we will likely experience some level of cloud cover tonight, but if it stays clear, views of the Milky Way will certainly be had. So swing by and have a moment with the cosmos at Frosty Drew tonight.

Tickets are required for visitors to attend this event.

The Event is Sold Out!

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.

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.

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.