Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jul 26, 2024 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

This event is SOLD OUT. Get on the waiting list

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 mostly clear sky conditions with periods of light cloud cover. The 66% waning gibbous Moon will not rise until 11:10 pm, offering up super dark sky conditions once twilight wanes. Additionally, if the sky is clear enough, the Milky Way should be quite visible after 10:00 pm, allowing for stunning views for those in attendance. Tonight certainly has the prospects for a fabulous night.

We will open the Observatory, Courtyard, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 6:30 pm this afternoon. Courtyard telescopes will be set up to observe the Sun in multiple wavelengths, offering views of sunspots, magnetic field lines, and prominence. Once the Sun sets, we will direct our telescopes towards the night sky. During twilight, binary stars will be our primary targets, but once twilight wanes we will revel in the amazing nebulae and star clusters visible along the Milky Way galactic plane. In the Sky Theatre NASA Solar System Ambassador, Frank Puglia, will present about the life cycle of stars, and other astronomical geekage. The Science Center will be showing exhibits with astronomy team members on hand to answer questions and offer commentary. We will close up at 11:00 pm.

Overall, tonight looks like a pretty good night. The late Moon rise will bring super dark sky conditions and now that we are well past the Summer Solstice, sunset and astronomical twilight are happening earlier. We do have a threat of some light clouds passing through, which could make the Milky Way harder to see, but some forecast sources are calling for clearer sky conditions, which could work out great.

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. This event has SOLD OUT. Getting on the waiting list may get you a ticket, but only ticket holding visitors will be admitted to the event.

For those who are are calling in unsure what "Sold Out" means; the event sells out when we reach our event capacity. This means that we cannot accommodate any additional visitors once the event sells out. It doesn't matter if the tickets are free or not. Sold out means that tickets are no longer available, and you cannot visit if you do not have a ticket. It also means that showing up to complain to our astronomers about not being able to get a ticket will not get you into the event, and may get you banned depending on how entitled you act. We understand that this may be frustrating and that it may not be as easy as just visiting on another day this summer, but our capacity is set per event based on how many astronomers will be on site. Thank you for your understanding.

Get on the Waiting List

We will update this event listing on the day of the event before 3:00 pm. The update will describe our plans for the night and what to expect regarding weather and astronomical sights.

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.