Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Feb 21, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 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 looking rather fantastic! We can expect clear sky conditions with no Moon until the 31% waning crescent Moon rises at 2:54 am. The late Moon rise will allow for fabulous views of thousands of stars. The only issue tonight will be the wind and the temps. We are expecting wind gusts into the 30mph range, which could restrict telescope viewing to only one side of the sky, and windchill will be in the low 20’s. A cold, clear night!

We will open the Observatory, Sky Theatre, and Science Center at 7:00 pm. In the Observatory, the primary 24 inch telescope will show off all the fantastic objects visible on the darkest nights, including the fabulous Orion Nebula, Star Clusters, and more. Additionally, Jupiter and Mars will be in view as well. In the Sky Theatre and Science Center the temps will be warm and on-screen we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured at Frosty Drew Observatory. Due to the fast dropping windchill tonight, we will close up at 9:00 pm.

Overall, tonight has the making of a fantastic night. Having no Moon during our open hours will allow for stunning views of the night sky. It could be quite windy on site, which may restrict our viewing to only one side of the sky, and the windchill will be exceptionally cold. Though we will give it a go. Dressing properly is a requirement tonight. Take a moment to read up on how the Frosty Drew Astronomy Team dresses on the cold winter nights. So bundle up and head out to the darkest spot in Rhode Island for a fabulous night under the winter sky.

Tickets are not required to attend this 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.