Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jan 2, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 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 stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight is the first Stargazing Night of 2026 at Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center. It is also the peak of the annual Quadrantid Meteor Shower. Forecasts are calling for clear sky conditions all night with some very cold temperatures and wind chill. We also have the 99% waxing gibbous Moon joining us for the night, which will certainly brighten up the sky and snowy landscape. Even though temps are frigid and the Moon is full, we will push forward and open for a night out under the stars.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 7:00 pm. In the Observatory we will direct our 24 inch telescope towards Saturn, Jupiter, binary stars, and carbon stars. Even though the Quadrantid peak is happening this evening, the bright Moon will easily obscure most of the meteors. Though some of the brighter Quadrantid meteors will be visible. Sadly, meteor activity will not be visible inside the Observatory dome, and meteor watchers will have to resist the frigid temps and wind chill of the Courtyard to observe shooting stars. In the Sky Theatre and Science Center temps will be warm and comfortable. We will show our regular feature of celestial objects photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory and exhibits will be on display for those looking for a quick warm up. We will close at 10:00 pm or when visitors stop showing up.

Now that we are in the cold of winter, our Friday night events do NOT require tickets for visitors to attend, and the $5 admission is not required. Though a $5 suggested donation is greatly appreciated. This is the model we will follow until mid-spring arrives. We do this because the winter nights bring significantly less visitors to the Frosty Drew campus. We do not set up Courtyard telescopes on most winter nights due to the cold conditions, and the Observatory building is completely open to the outside air.

Overall, tonight is looking to be a classic winter night. It will be cold with temps dropping into the low 20’s alongside a steady windchill of 15ºF. The near-full Moon will certainly dominate the sky, outshining all but the brightest stars. The Quadrantid Meteor Shower, which is one of the year’s best, will also be out shined by the bright Moon. If visiting, be sure to dress for severe winter conditions! It should also be noted that the Frosty Drew campus has a few inches of snow present and visitors should expect to encounter slippery conditions when visiting. The bright Moon will adequately illuminate the landscape and slippery spots should be easily visible. So bundle up and stop in for a night under the bright Moon.

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.