Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jun 5, 2026 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

$5 per person over four years of age

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 stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are calling for partly cloudy to mostly cloudy sky conditions – depending on forecast source. There are some sources calling for clearer sky conditions, though partly cloudy seems to be the most likely. The 67% waning gibbous Moon does not rise until 12:16 am, and will allow for super dark sky conditions tonight. Depending on how cloudy it is on site will make or break the night, with potential first season views of the Milky Way later in the night.

We will open at 6:30 pm this afternoon with our solar viewing program. In the Observatory Courtyard we will have our solar telescopes setup showing the solar photosphere and solar chromosphere. In the Observatory we will show daytime views of Venus and Jupiter. Once the Sun sets, we will switch over to dark sky mode. Telescopes will be set up in the Courtyard showing views of Jupiter, Venus, and more. The large Observatory 24 inch telescope will focus on nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. 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 has the potential to be a fabulous night. We have a threat of clouds and we will likely experience partly cloudy conditions during most of our event. If making the long drive, it could be worth it, but keep in mind that you could be met with heavier cloud cover. So head over to Frosty Drew tonight for a night of stars, planets, conjunctions, and the cosmos.

Tickets are required for visitors to attend this event. Inline with our mission to keep costs as low as possible, tickets are $5 per person ages 5 and older. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event until the event sells out.

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.

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 from dusk - dawn. 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.