Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Apr 10, 2026 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation Per Person

UPDATE: We are fully fogged out at the Observatory and we aren't expecting a clearing. We will not have the telescope looking at the sky.

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's forecasts are calling for partly cloudy to mostly cloudy conditions. The 36% waning crescent Moon does not rise until 3:20 am, leaving the sky super dark for our entire session. Even with the rather inclement forecast we will attempt an opening tonight, and see what the sky has to offer.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 7:30 pm. In the Observatory the large 24 inch telescope will attempt a view of Jupiter, binary stars, and anything else that we can catch through thinner clouds. Depending on cloud cover we may set up a Courtyard telescope on Venus earlier in the night. In the Sky Theatre we will show the live stream of the Artemis II mission reentry and splashdown maneuvers. The Science Center will have exhibits on display. We will close up at 9:30 pm.

Overall, tonight does not have the makings of an excellent night. Even though the Moon will not be with us for the night, we will have a good deal of clouds to bother us, and one forecast source is calling for fog, which usually moves in much earlier than forecast for our location. If making the long drive, tonight is likely a night to skip. Though if you’re in the area and have a free Friday night, swing over and catch up on the astro happenings.

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 a great week in space in:
A Celebration of Space - April 10, 2026

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.

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.