Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Nov 15, 2024 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cost:

Tickets are Required to Attend. Get Tickets Here

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 mostly clear sky conditions with the potential for wind gusts reaching into the 20 mph range. The full Moon occurs this afternoon and will make for difficult viewing against the significant levels of bright Moon light, which will certainly restrict our telescopic views to only the brightest objects in the night sky. Regardless, temps will be a bit warmer and the sky will be clear, so we are good to go!

We will open the Observatory, Courtyard, and Science Center at 7:00 pm. In the Observatory and Courtyard, our telescopes will show views of Saturn, Jupiter, the full Moon, Albireo, Mizar, and more. The night will be all about the planets and binary star systems. In the Science Center, exhibits will be on display, and the Sky Theatre may be open with our regular feature of celestial objects photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory. Maintenance in the Sky Theatre is ongoing, which could see it stay closed this week. We will close up for the night at 10:00 pm.

Overall, tonight will be a beautiful night to be out under the Moon. The sky will be clear, but the Moon will dominate the sky. If you’re looking for those super dark sky conditions with thousands of stars, you will want to sit this one out. The Moon is just going to be too bright. On the flip side, the full Moon certainly gets people looking up, and if the Moon is your dig, then tonight is your night. So make the drive to Frosty Drew for a night under the full November Moon, and become acquainted with your inner geek.

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.

Get Tickets Here

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 astro happenings in:
A Celebration of Space - November 15, 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 Late 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.