Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theatre

When:

August 11 & 12, 2018 - CLOSED

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation per person 5 years and older

UPDATE - August 12, 2018 1:30 p.m. ET ---------

Tonight’s forecasts of rather grim weather is persisting, making for poor meteor viewing. We can expect fog, showers, thunderstorms and clouds. At this time we do not see any reasonable potential to spot meteors among the weather. Sadly, we will remain CLOSED tonight.

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The early morning of August 12th and 13th, 2018 will bring the Perseid Meteor Shower peak to the skies over Frosty Drew, blazing the starscape with up to 100+ meteors per hour. The Perseids are considered by many to be the best meteor shower of the year, and in 2018 we are setup for a truly amazing display. Bright Moon light will obscure our view of meteor activity when the Moon is above the horizon. Though the New Moon happens on August 11th, which means no Moon for the entire meteor shower! That’s best case scenario. Perseids will start appearing more frequently after 10:00 p.m., with the shower will really take off shortly after midnight. The peak occurs in the early morning hours of August 12th and 13th just before dawn. Certainly an amazing night to be under the wide open, super dark skies at Frosty Drew Observatory.

Join Frosty Drew astronomers at the Observatory on August 11, 2018 and again on August 12, 2018, weather permitting, to witness this spectacular event. We will open the Observatory and Sky Theatre at 8:03 p.m. with our regular Stargazing Night event. In the Observatory, telescopes will showcase the night sky starting until meteors start becoming frequent, usually around 10:00 p.m.. Telescopic views of Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and more will serve as a mesmerizing start to a great night. Once meteors become frequent, we will all make our way outside to view the spectacular meteor shower. We may have portable telescopes available throughout the night with some great views of deep sky objects. The Sky Theatre will remain open all night with videos and showcases of celestial objects we have photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory.

Additionally, Frosty Drew Observatory will host author Will Kalif on Satuday night starting at 8:00 p.m., who will be signing copies off his new book: “See It with a Small Telescope”.

Bring your friends and family. Break out your lawn chairs and blankets, *binoculars, and telescopes. Sit under the beautifully clear dark skies of Charlestown, Rhode Island and have a fabulous astronomy experience as shooting stars blaze the sky!

Take a minute to read up on visiting the Frosty Drew Observatory and catch up on what to / not to bring and how to adequately prepare for a comfortable nigh of meteor watching.

See you under Perseid skies!

*Binoculars and telescopes are welcome but are not needed to view the meteor shower. This event is a weather dependent event. Cloudy skies, fog, and / or rain will cancel this event.