Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Apr 4, 2025 8:00 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's forecasts are calling for partly cloudy sky conditions. Most of the cloud cover will be from high clouds, which should be observable through. We will likely be restricted to brighter objects like the planets and the first quarter Moon, but the views should be acceptable.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 8:00 pm. In the Observatory, the large telescope will show views of Jupiter, the first quarter Moon, and Mars. Earlier in the night, Jupiter’s moon – Io, will be casting its shadow on Jupiter’s cloud tops, which will be visible in our telescope. Depending on sky conditions we will try for views of binary stars, and possibly carbon stars as well. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured at Frosty Drew Observatory. We will close up at 10:30 pm.

Overall, tonight will be a bit cloudy, and depending on how heavy the cloud cover is, will determine what we can observe. If making the long drive, tonight will probably be a night to stay home. If cloud cover is thinner, our views of Jupiter and Mars can benefit because clouds will reduce the brightness of the object, making it easier to see surface features in the telescope. We’ll take the night as it goes and give it a go. If you’re in the area and have a free night, stop by for a view of the planets and the Moon.

Tickets are not required to attend tonight's event.

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.

How to Dress for Winter Conditions: The Frosty Drew Observatory is not climate controlled, and the temperature inside the dome need to match the outside air temperature for a stable telescopic view. Frosty Drew Astronomy Team members dress in layers during the winter and for a very good reason. You should consider doing the same. Please read Dressing for All-Night Winter Stargazing to familiarize yourself with adequate dressing 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.