Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, May 1, 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 partly cloudy sky conditions becoming overcast overnight. We have the full Moon with us all night tonight, which will significantly outshine nearly everything else in the sky aside from planets and the brightest stars. Even though we have a reliable threat of clouds, we will still open tonight and hope for the best.

We’ll open the Observatory and Science Center at 8:00 pm. In the Observatory we will direct the large 24 inch telescope towards Jupiter and binary star systems. In the Observatory Courtyard we will have telescopes set up offering views of Venus, the full Moon, and anything else the sky presents. 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 10:00 pm.

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

Overall, tonight is probably the night to skip. The sky will start to cloud out shortly after sunset with overcast conditions setting in shortly after we close. We also have the full Moon, which will significantly brighten up the night sky. If making the long drive, keep in mind that the Milky Way and most stars will be outshined by moonlight tonight, and you could be met with clouds upon arrival. If you have a free night and are in the local area, stop in for a view of Jupiter and Venus and catch up on some astronomy with the Frosty Drew team.

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 some astro in:
A Celebration of Space - May 1, 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 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.