Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jun 27, 2025 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

Tickets are required to attend. Please read below.

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 free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are largely calling for mostly cloudy sky conditions with increasing clouds. Our most reliable forecast source is calling for mostly clear sky conditions with clouds passing through between 8-10 pm, similar to what we saw last Friday. Historically, outside of 2025, variability has favored us at Frosty Drew, and we could see that happen tonight. Though it has been an infamous year for clouds and tonight could end up clouded out. We have a super thin 9% waxing crescent Moon, which will stay with us until 10:36 pm, which will offer stunning views of Earthshine – when the dark regions of the Moon are illuminated by sunlight reflecting off of Earth.

The Observatory and Science Center will open at 6:30 pm. In the Observatory Courtyard our solar telescopes will be set up showing views of the Sun. Even though the Sun is a bit quiet this week, there are still several sunspot regions visible. Once the Sun sets we will direct our telescopes toward the twilight sky. Up first will be the crescent Moon and binary star systems. Once twilight wanes we will show off views of nebulae, star clusters, and anything else that sky conditions allow for. 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 a questionable night. As for the view, we have the potential for an amazing night, but Southern New England weather is relentlessly a hindrance. There will certainly be some level of cloud cover tonight, though we are unsure how significant. It really could go either way. For comparison, tonight’s forecast is similar to last Friday’s, and last Friday was much worse than we expected. If making the long drive keep in mind that you may be met with cloudy conditions. Though the potential does exist for a good night, so it may be worth the try. In any case we will look to the sky and hope for the best.

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.

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.

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 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. If you show up with your high beam headlights on, don't expect a warm welcome. Learn more about why we have this requirement in The Red Light District.