Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Fri, Sep 18, 2026 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cost:

This Event Has SOLD OUT

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 stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with us.

Tonight's forecasts are calling for partly cloudy to overcast conditions depending on forecast source. We’ll have the first quarter Moon present until 10:57 pm, which may offer easier views during thinner cloud cover. With so much variability in the forecast, we have decided to give it a go tonight and work with what we have.

We will open the Observatory and Science Center at 8:00 pm. In the Observatory and Observatory Courtyard we will direct our telescopes towards anything the sky allows, including the first quarter Moon, Saturn, Albireo, and more. 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.

Overall, tonight’s forecast is quite variable with some sources calling for overcast conditions and others calling for partly cloudy conditions. If making the long drive keep in mind that you may arrive to a clouded out sky. We are also expecting a bit of wind tonight, which could significantly minimize mosquito activity, which has been a challenge this year due to the hot, wet summer conditions we have had. It should also be noted that at Frosty Drew variable forecasts usually favor us, and we could see clearer than expected conditions tonight. So head over to Frosty Drew for the last Stargazing Nights event of summer 2026 and have your moment with 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.

How to Prepare for Autumn 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.