Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Aug 23, 2024 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

This Event is 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 is the last Summer Stargazing Nights event before we end our summer season with the annual Rhythm and Roots music festival, which occurs next Friday (August 30th). Forecasts for tonight are looking quite nice with mostly clear sky conditions expected for most of the night. We could see an increase in clouds just before we wrap up the night, and there will be an increase in haze as the night continues, but the sky will be acceptable. Considering that we have the 79% waning gibbous Moon rising at 9:38 pm, we may have a brief view of the Milky Way before the Moon shows up and outshines the view.

We will open the Observatory, Courtyard, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 6:30 pm this afternoon. In the Courtyard, our solar telescopes will be set up on the Sun showcasing the extreme number of sunspots we have been seeing this week. Once the Sun sets we will begin our switch to twilight stargazing with views of binary and multiple star systems. Once twilight wanes, we will have a brief moment to observe star clusters, nebulae, and all the amazing objects that reside along the Milky Way galactic plane. Later in the night, the Moon and Saturn will be visible in our telescopes. The Sky Theatre will be hosting Frosty Drew Astronomy Team member, Greg Mastrioanni, who will be presenting about T Corona Borealis and the coming nova. We will close up at 11:00 pm.

Overall, tonight is looking rather excellent with clear sky conditions for most of our night. Haze from wildfire smoke will increase as the night progresses and partly cloudy conditions will start happening after 10:30 pm. If making the long drive, tonight is a good night to consider. Even though the Moon will eventually outshine most of the sky, we will have a quick bout of super dark sky viewing. We’ll see you soon!

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 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.