Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Sep 27, 2024 7:30 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, the return of the clouds continue over Southern New England, and we can expect mostly cloudy conditions with fog eventually setting in. Nearly all forecasts are calling for thinner high clouds, which may allow for views of Saturn and brighter stars in the big telescope. The 14% waning crescent Moon will not rise until 2:22 pm, which would have offered super dark sky conditions. Though any level of clouds will obscure our view of the Milky Way, nebulae, and star clusters. We are optimistic that we may have a view of Saturn, so we will open tonight with a limited event.

Starting at 7:30 pm, we will open the Observatory, Science Center, and Sky Theatre. In the Observatory, the large 24 inch telescope will offer views of any binary star we can get a view of followed by Saturn. As the night progresses we will attempt to view any object that is accessible, though anything aside from Saturn and brighter binary stars will likely not happen. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured at Frosty Drew Observatory, and the Science Center will host exhibits. If the sky is too cloudy to observe, then we will offer tours of the large observatory telescope with the lights on and commentaries by our astronomers on exhibits in the Science Center. We will close up at 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight is the night to skip. It will be cloudy, and depending on how thick the clouds are will decide how the night will play out. Thin cloud cover usually helps with viewing Saturn, but only to a point, after which it is just too dim. If making the long drive keep in mind that you could be met with clouds upon arriving. Additionally, since it is a poor night to observe, we will not require visitors to have tickets to be admitted. If you’re in the local area, stop in and hope for the best.

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 astronomical happenings this week in:
A Celebration of Space - September 27, 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 Prepare for Autumn 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 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.