Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Jun 19, 2026 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cost:

This Event Has SOLD OUT

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 clear sky conditions once a quick bout of clouds clear out later this afternoon. The 30% waxing crescent Moon will be with us until almost midnight offering spectacular views of the thin crescent alongside Earthshine – when the nighttime side of the Moon is dimly illuminated from sunlight reflecting off of Earth. Even though the Moon is only a 30% crescent, it will be bright enough to obscure some of the dimmest objects we observe, including views of the Milky Way. Regardless, it looks like we have a fantastic night of stargazing lined up for this evening.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 6:30 pm this afternoon. In the Observatory Courtyard we will host our solar viewing program until the Sun drops into the trees. Our solar telescopes will offer views of the solar photosphere with visible sunspots as well as the solar chromosphere’s magnetic field lines and prominence. We will also have a telescope showing daytime views of Venus and Jupiter. Once the Sun sets we will switch over to stargazing mode. In the Observatory we will direct the large 24 inch telescope towards the Moon and binary stars during twilight. Once astronomical twilight wanes, we will direct our telescopes towards nebulae and star clusters. In the Sky Theatre, NASA Solar System Ambassador – Frank Puglia, will offer two presentations on general astronomy, one at 8:00 pm and another at 9:30 pm. In the Science Center we will have exhibits on display. We will close up at 11:00 pm.

Overall, tonight looks like we have a fantastic night under the stars lined up. The sky should be clear, the Moon will be beautiful, and the sky will offer hundreds of objects to observe. If making the long drive, tonight is a good night to do it, though keep in mind that the Moon will obscure many objects in the night sky, including the Milky Way. Otherwise, set your GPS to Frosty Drew and become acquainted with your inner geek.

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.

Take a moment to catch up on some weekly astronomical happenings in:
A Celebration of Space - June 19, 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.

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.