Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, May 8, 2026 8:30 pm - 10:30 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 increasing clouds with a slight chance of passing showers during our event times. The third quarter Moon will rise at 1:48 am, keeping the sky super dark tonight once twilight ends. Even with the questionable forecast, we could be in for a good night at the Observatory before heavier clouds move in.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 8:30 pm. In the Observatory we will direct our large 24 inch telescope towards Jupiter until twilight wanes. Once darkness sets in we will attempt a view of several galaxies in the Virgo Supercluster, if clouds stay out. Otherwise, we will check out anything the sky has to offer. Courtyard telescopes will showcase Venus, nebulae, and star clusters. 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 at 10:30 pm.

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

Overall, tonight has the potential to be a great night, though several forecast sources are calling for partly cloudy conditions, and one source is calling for possible showers. If making the long drive keep in mind that you could be met with cloudy conditions upon arrival. Even with the forecast, we have seen better than expected conditions on site for the past couple of weeks, and we are hopeful that the night will work out. So set your sights on the sky and head out to Frosty Drew for a moment with the cosmos.

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.