Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, May 22, 2026 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

$5 per person over four years of age

Welcome to the Frosty Drew Summer 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 our first Summer Stargazing Nights event of 2026, and forecasts are calling for mostly cloudy sky conditions becoming overcast overnight. Some forecast sources are calling for overcast conditions to move in this afternoon with others calling for partly cloudy conditions earlier in the evening. We have the 45% waxing crescent Moon with us until 1:32 am, which will allow for potential views if clouds are thin enough. Even though the forecast is quite questionable, we will give it a go and hope for the best.

We’ll start this afternoon at 6:30 pm with views of the Sun. Our solar telescopes will be set up offering views of the solar photosphere and chromosphere, as well as daytime views of Venus. Once the Sun sets we will switch over to nighttime mode. In the Observatory the large 24 inch telescope will offer views of the waxing crescent Moon, Jupiter, and any other object that we can catch a view of. Courtyard telescopes will showcase Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory, and the Science Center will have exhibits on display. We will close up at 11:00 pm.

Overall, tonight is not looking all that great. We could see the sky become fully overcast early in the evening. On the flip side, clouds could be thin enough to catch excellent views of Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, and stars. Regardless, it will be a less than optimal night, at best. If making the long drive, keep in mind that you may arrive to a clouded out sky. Though if you are in the area tonight, stop in and hope for the best.

Tickets are required for visitors to attend this event. Inline with our mission to keep costs as low as possible, tickets are $5 per person ages 5 and older. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event until the event sells out. All the information you need about tickets are either right here or here. We do not respond to inquiries regarding acquiring tickets. Thank you for understanding.

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 Frosty 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.

Visit our daily ephemerides tool to find out what Solar System objects are visible this week.

Read about our Observatory Dome Access Passes, which are available on a first come first serve basis.

How to Prepare for Summertime 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 from dusk - dawn. 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.