Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Oct 18, 2024 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Cost:

This Event has SOLD OUT!

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's forecasts look fantastic! We are expecting clear sky conditions with cool temps. The 98% waning gibbous Moon will rise at 6:33 pm, and will be with us for the entire night. Even though the Moon will be very bright, we will still have excellent views of Saturn, and Comet A3 in our telescopes.

We will open the Observatory, Courtyard, Science Center, and Sky Theatre at 7:30 pm tonight. In the Observatory, the large 24 inch telescope will show off Saturn’s rings and moons. Binary star systems are on our list as well. Courtyard telescopes will be showing Comet A3, the waning gibbous Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter later in the night, alongside any other object that is visible through the copious Moon light. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured at Frosty Drew Observatory, and the Science Center will be open with exhibits on display. We’ll close up at 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight has the makings of a fantastic night, aside from the super bright Moon. If a dark sky with thousands of stars is your thing, tonight will be a night to skip, because the Moon is going to outshine nearly everything except the brightest stars and planets. Comet A3 is still visible to the naked eye , but bright Moon light will certainly make it very dim. Regardless, the view of the comet in our telescopes will be fabulous. So swing by and have a cool autumn night under the Moon, and become acquainted with Comet A3 at Frosty Drew tonight.

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!

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 fantastication in:
A Celebration of Space - October 18, 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.