Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

A must do on a Friday night. It’s Free to the public. I been going here for a number of years with my children. The staff are amazing and extremely knowledgeable about everything beyond this earth. They have a very high tech telescope that shows amazing views of the moon, stars and planets beyond. A couple of things to consider before going. Go on a Friday night. Dress warm, Bring binoculars if you own a pair. Lastly be mindful of your car lights and flashlights.

Stunning meter shower event!!!!! Very well organized and volunteers on the site are very friendly and knowledgeable. We observed the Moon, Saturn, and Albireo through the telescopes. The meter shower is amazing!!!!! It is such a fun event to learn and see the stars 🥰

They have a star gazing night every Friday. It's from 6:30pm-10:30pm - people stay for as long as they want, there'sno time limit. You don't buy tickets online but when you get there. You have to get tickets for the observatory separately, and we got there too late for that. They have 3 telescopes outside and 1 in the observatory. There are people (students and interns mostly) at each of the telescopes outside who answer questions and give lots of information. You can also go to the house across the street to see astrophotography which is quite special.

We went on the full moon, nice and dark clear night. Noone was there. Very quiet. Have been during a public viewing event as well, very educational and exciting. Make sure to check their page and the weather as well. And bundle up it gets chilly out there!

I have had multiple wonderful visits at frosty drew observatory. This most recent visit, the astronomers were incredibly kind and accommodating, even sticking around to let me get my own shot of Jupiter! I have always found them knowledgeable and willing to go out of their way. Some nights in the winter are especially cold and as they have been out there for an extended period late into the night, they understandably have a closing time. Many of them travel from hours away to get to the observatory and thus, have a long haul back home. Despite this, I have found they are very amiable especially to those who have an understanding reception to their boundaries.

I just visited Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center last night and it was magical. Wow! What an incredible experience looking through telescopes and being able to see stars, nebulae, constellations, galaxies and so much more! Especially in the Observatory building itself looking through the massive, high powered telescope! Amazing! The staff were great! Extremely nice and welcoming and very knowledgeable! They answered any questions we asked with a smile. Bill especially! So much knowledge and passion and enthusiasm from him! He explained things thoroughly in a way that was easy for all ages to understand. So much fun, so much to see and so much to learn! I left feeling a sense of wonder and awe. Thanks Frosty Drew for an unforgettable and spectacular summer night of stargazing! So glad I discovered this awesome little gem! Can't wait to come back another time!

This review is for the Frosty Drew Observatory - Brought the kids for a night that was "out of this world"! The observatory itself is smaller than I expected, but it's amazing. The smaller space is actually a benefit because it's more personal, and everyone can get a turn. Walk in and within a few minutes later you're looking at Saturn's rings or something else amazing. You want to check the weather before you go because clear nights are best. But even partly cloudy is OK too. The place is free but they ask for a $1 donation. When I was there hardly anyone donated. Come on people, shame on you, it's a dollar, be generous! Also try to get there before it's too dark because the headlights of cars approaching can be distracting while trying to view. They would benefit from planting some thick shrubs between the parking lot and the observatory to block the headlights. Those who volunteer at the observatory really know their stuff, and have a passion for stargazing. Very impressive.

When I tell you I had THE BEST TIME here! We learned so much and saw so many beautiful things in the sky.. Saturn, Jupiter... messier 13 and 27... we talked about the new telescope coming on the 23! I might be there to watch😂 needless to say for a small SUGGESTED donation of $5.. this was by far the best outing... bring a blanket if you wanna stay out and watch them move across the sky ..ugh can't wait to go again!!!

Came here tonight (8:30) because we had a visitor from Hawaii staying with us for a couple of weeks. Thought this would make an interesting outing. I have been here a few times before but never on a night that had an event planned. I was expecting to see some of the Perseid meteor showers but instead we were informed by the volunteer in front that there was a special event in the observatory's theater. A spokesperson from NASA was here with a presentation about the James Webb Space Telescope. The asking donation price was $5. I'm happy to give that! It was standing room only by the time my group got in. The presentation was so informative. I learned a lot of things. Like how they were able to origami fold the tennis court sized telescope into a space shuttle only to unfold in space while still traveling tens of thousands of miles per hour. All of the mirrors can move and auto correct themselves to adjust to what they're focusing on. Also what was amazing was that they used really thin layers of Mylar like material and the air passing through each of these layers was able to change the temperature from about 240°c to -130°c We were each able to try out an infrared gun on our hands (covered by a tarp) to see that the infrared gun could see through and our hands would be visible. After the presentation we were able to grab some NASA swag and I was totally geeking out. My son only took 1 small sticker. It was dark in there and I just grabbed a handful. Don't worry! He said that he had more for everyone if the table ran out so I didn't leave any one empty handed. After the presentation we headed back to the observatory. The telescope was pointed at a binary star system. I don't remember the name. We were lucky to see anything because the sky had a thin veil of clouds. While still in the park- driving home- the full moon was so glorious. With thin ribbons of clouds swirling around it- it looked like a sunrise. But more mysterious. Almost monochrome. I would have definitely snapped a pic if I weren't driving. I plan on coming here a lot more. This is such a gem! I recommend coming to Ninigret during the day so you can learn to navigate to the observatory easier. It is pitch black. They also ask that once you make it into the park that you turn off your head lights and only drive with your running lights. There is a parking lot to the right of the observatory. Other Astronomy enthusiasts are usually on the lawn in front of the observatory so please do not have your headlights on. The observatory is kind of a tight space. And it's dark. It's a circle but enter on the right. Halfway around inside there will be a sign in book. The book generally sits on top of a donation box. The telescope will be pointed at something and usually it will stay in that position. On slow nights they can point it somewhere else as long as everyone has had a chance to see and most of them show an interest in seeing something else.

An awesome little spot within a park in south county. It's a little observatory for us nerds that love space things. Saturn was clear that night so there was a long line of people waiting to see it. I was surprised at how many people were out there lined up to get a glimpse of the planet. It was complete darkness out there so you could see millions of stars and the Milky Way with your own eyes. I saw 3 satellites and a couple of shooting stars! We waited in line for about 30 minutes before we got inside the observatory. It's a small dome with a large telescope inside. There were two men working in there and we were able to look through the telescope for a few minutes. You could see the the blue planet with rings around it; it was so clear! It's a brilliant and fascinating experience. And the coolest part, it was free! If you have a chance, go check it it!

What a cool observatory! It is small but definitely a fun place to visit - especially if you're in the Charlestown, RI area or will pass by it. It was a bit hard to find in the dark but it was so great when we got there! The observatory has very specific hours and times so PLEASE check their website before you go. I happened to go there on a Friday night when they were open. AND while it was cold temperature wise (39/40 degrees) and windy, we were still able to see, very clearly I might add, Uranus and other stars millions of miles away. The folks at the observatory make it their life's mission to observe the stars and learn more about what's in space and talk about what they see. They give informational talks and they let you see through their giant telescope. They can point out pretty much everything and answer questions should you have any. I particularly liked the pictures they shared of events that happened (ie meteor showers, comets and such) and It was great to have visited this place. It's not a huge institution or backed by major funding so keep that in mind if you're willing to donate a little to their cause. They don't ask for it in person (it is mentioned on the web-site) but they are truly explorers of the sky, so be nice. I was lucky enough to see the full moon while there as well. I was told the observatory roof can move around (360 degrees) but it was quite windy so they didn't do it that night. Feel free to bring your own telescope. The view is breathtaking. Charlestown is pretty during the Fall season and the changing of the leaves makes for a great - comfortable weather, nature walk in the day. (Near the observatory are biking and hiking trails). Better still is that there's tons of great seafood minutes away, not miles away, and sights to see (use Google or Trip Advisor to search for "best things to do in Charlestown, RI" and this makes the list). I couldn't agree more. Tip - do NOT use flash if you're trying to take pictures. It damages or affects their equipment. It is indeed dark so just be aware of others around you, especially when parking. There's only light from the night sky to guide you. AND dress for the cold as the roof is "open". There's no heat in this place. FYI - finding it via GPS was not so easy - especially in the dark! But follow the signs for the Senior Community Center once you're in the vicinity. There's like one sign from the highway reach the road that points to the Center or the Nature Trail - that first parking lot area (right side of the road is NOT it), just follow the straight road in and you'll be fine.

Wonderful opportunity to see Saturn, Jupiter, and more stars than you would in most other places in Rhode Island. During COVID they are mindful of limiting number of people by asking everyone to purchase a ticket day of an event. Make sure you purchase a ticket that says "dome access" if you want to look through their most powerful telescope. An opportunity for improvement is their flow of people through the observatory. The main astronomer was chatting with each and every small group that entered the observatory, with everyone else waiting in silence outside for their turn. It would make more sense to have him standing outside and explaining/answering questions, so people could more easily go inside and look through the telescope, of course while supervised by another staff member. It took us 1.5 hours later than anticipated to get to the observatory since the line moved soooo slowly. The lady at the entrance checking tickets was very nice and noticed the issue; she went in several times to encourage him to speed it up. The dome access line only sped up when the main astronomer left and another staff member took over, so he was clearly the bottleneck to our ability to view the planets. We were able to stand in line for the peripheral outdoor telescopes that were set up. Two out of three of them were both aimed at Jupiter; we asked both if we could see Saturn as well, and one of the guys was nice enough to recognize that a ton of people were standing in line twice to see the same planet, so he turned it to Saturn, and it was fantastic! We truly enjoyed the awe-inspiring views. With some improvement in how they manage the line flow for the observatory, it could be a seamless and educational experience.

I came here for Observe the Moon Night on Saturday and had a blast! Frosty drew is located in beautiful Ninigret Park. It is such a dark part of New England that the stars are absolutely beautiful here and the constellations are so clear. I was very impressed with the telescope; they had it perfectly zoomed in on the moon. You could clearly see all the details of the moon; I have never seen anything like it. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and very friendly; you can tell they love their jobs! I look forward to making many trips back; even just to gaze at the stars. I drove over and hour and it was well worth it, this is such a peaceful place! I think it is a great place to bring a child if they have any interest in the moon and outer space. Also, bring a few dollars, it is free, but donations are greatly appreciated!

This was my first visit tonight, but it will definitely not be my last! The people working tonight were all so friendly and knowledgeable. With their help (and their fantastic telescopes), my mother and I were able to see Jupiter (and its colored bands and Galilean moons) and Saturn and Titan. We were shown the ISS and satellites as they passed by, as well as constellations and the Milky Way glow. This was such a fantastic experience! Thank you for everything!

Its quite the drive from Providence in the middle of the night but this place will blow you away. I have only been once but plan on making return trips. I don't know too much about it but every Friday around 6 or 7pm in the summer they open for viewing. More information is available on their website. Educational, fun, and inspirational. If you have never seen the milky way before this is THE best place to see it.

Everyone loved this place from my 3 year old to my husband. We went on a Friday overcast night... So no stars to see but they discussed a super cool slide show with us. The instructors were so nice and knowledgeable. So glad we went!

My Mom lives in the are and we had driven here a few times at different times of day. Last month on the night of the full moon (9/16/16 I believe) we came here because the telescope was going to be featuring Saturn. The full moon was a bonus. Coming from NYC it is always startling at how there is less light pollution in RI in general. This location is noted for being quite dark. Definitely bring a flashlight when walking from parking. In terms of the wait and the set up of the telescope it is not the easiest situation to navigate especially if anyone has any mobility issues. The volunteers had all kind of information they were sharing. The full moon was an added bonus-it was an incredibly clear night. When I finally got up to the telescope Saturn looked a bit like a computer generated blip in the eyepiece but it was very cool nonetheless. Would definitely like to return when I am in the area!