Frosty Drew Observatory
July 2011 :
Several years ago I wrote a series of articles highlighting “space places” in Rhode Island. I neglected one important astronomical facility located down on Rhode Island’s south coast. Natives of the smallest state don’t like to drive far for any event. We often joke that someone from the northern environs of our state needs to bring a passport, lunch, and an overnight bag to make a journey to Newport or Westerly. That state of mind even has a name, it’s called being provincial.
Well, if you wish to observe the heavens from perhaps the darkest site in Rhode Island then you must shrug off those inhibitions to visit Frosty Drew Observatory, located in Ninigret Park off Route 1 in Charlestown. For you GPS folks, the address is 62 Park Lane, Charlestown, Rhode Island, 02813.
Back on July 3, 1983, a nature center opened on the grounds of the former Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field. It is located on the edge of the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge and the Ninigret Conservation Area. The center, built next to a small pond, displays a variety of sea shells and other objects of the natural world. A deck on the edge of the pond allows one to watch birds and other wildlife close-up.
Then in 1988, a domed observatory was erected across the street. It currently contains a 16-inch Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Every clear Friday night the facility is open to the public free-of-charge. One should make every opportunity to visit Frost Drew because the skies are the darkest ones I know of anywhere in southern New England. In fact, many members of Skyscrapers observe the major meteor showers from this location or at one of the parking lots further down the road. They also conduct telescopic observing sessions at these sites as well because the skies are exceptionally dark, thereby providing excellent views of our beautiful universe.
The only problem during certain times of the year can be the fog. While it may be clear up in Pascoag, Scituate, Warwick, Coventry and even Wakefield, by the time one travels closer to Ninigret Park and the water, you may soon find yourself in a dense fog bank. However, if the skies remain clear you are in for a treat.
The knowledgeable staff, including Director Francine Jackson, Associate Director Scott McNeil, and volunteers Rachel Flaksman and Dave Kerber will be your guides to the wonders of the heavens. Whether it is the Moon, a planet, open clusters, globular clusters, galaxies, double stars or simply constellation identification, the views will be magnificent under steady and haze-free sky conditions.
In addition, in 2010 a Sky Theater was added to the Nature Center. This auditorium provides an indoor facility to hear astronomy and nature lectures alike.
The Frosty Drew Observatory is open every clear Friday night year-round. Please check out the web page for weather closures before venturing down: http://www.frostydrew.org/. Click on “Observatory and Sky Theatre” to access the Observatory home page. Click on “Contact FDO” for the open/close status. The website also contains other interesting information for a budding amateur astronomer.
And should the weather cooperate on Friday, July 29, two minor meteor showers, the Delta Aquarids (medium speed) and the Alpha Capricornids (slow with occasional fireballs), will grace our skies. Though these two showers are more productive after midnight, the dark skies of Frosty Drew will most certainly reveal more shooting stars than almost any location in southern New England.
While the drive from northern Rhode Island to Frosty Drew can take upwards of one hour and fifteen minutes, if the night sky is clear your journey will be well worth the effort. Or, if you have a Friday off from work and have spent the day in the sun and surf at one of the south coast beaches, you can stop over at the Observatory before the drive home. Depending upon the day you may also wish to visit the Nature Center. Either way you’ll most assuredly enjoy your visit.
And don’t forget that Seagrave Memorial Observatory (http:/www.theskyscrapers.org) in North Scituate is open to the public every clear Saturday night. Also, Ladd Observatory (http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Physics/Ladd/) in Providence is open every clear Tuesday night. Special notice: since the weather has forced Ladd to close an inordinate number of Tuesdays so far this year, it was decided that Ladd will remain open during the summer months. Be sure to check both websites for the public night schedules and opening times.
Seagrave Observatory will be closed to the public on July 9 for a special members’ program.
Keep your eyes to the skies.
Photograph by Scott MacNeill
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