Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Apr 24, 2026 8:00 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 free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are calling for mostly clear to partly cloudy sky conditions. The 57% waxing gibbous Moon will be with us until the early morning hours and will brighten up the sky a bit. Though at 57% waxing gibbous many fantastic lunar regions will be in view. Even if the sky becomes partly cloudy we should be able to observe the Moon and other brighter objects.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 8:00 pm. In the Observatory we will direct our large 24 inch telescope towards the Moon, Jupiter, binary stars, and anything else that we can catch a view of. In the Observatory Courtyard we will have telescopes set up on Venus, the Moon and more. In the Sky Theatre we will show our regular feature of celestial objects captured at Frosty Drew Observatory, and the Science Center will have exhibits on display. We will stay open until 10:00 pm.

Tickets are NOT required for visitors to attend tonight's event.

Overall, tonight looks like a good night. We won’t have super dark sky conditions due to the presence of the waxing gibbous Moon, and the sky could become periodically cloudy. Though most forecasts are calling for clear sky conditions. If making the long drive, it may be worth the hike, especially if you have a thing for the Moon. So set out to Frosty Drew tonight for a night of astronomy and have a moment with your inner astro-geek.

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.

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. Learn more about why we have this requirement in The Red Light District.