Frosty Drew Observatory

Frosty Drew Observatory is a public astronomical observatory in the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown, Rhode Island, midway along the coast between Westerly and Point Judith.

About Frosty Drew Observatory

Owned and operated by the Frosty Drew Memorial Fund, the observatory is named after Edwin "Frosty" Drew and is dedicated to public astronomy education. Its current director is Scott MacNeill.

History

Frosty Drew Observatory was founded in 1988. Its main instrument, a PlaneWave CDK600 24-inch Corrected Dall-Kirkham telescope, was installed in October 2021, giving visitors a sharp, modern view of the night sky.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's centrepiece is the 24-inch PlaneWave CDK600, a Corrected Dall-Kirkham design well suited to both public viewing and imaging of deep-sky objects.

Location & getting there

Set within the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge on the Rhode Island coast, Frosty Drew Observatory benefits from a relatively dark coastal sky between the towns of Westerly and Point Judith, in the North America region.

Visiting Frosty Drew Observatory

The observatory is open to the public and regularly hosts events, including Summer Stargazing Nights and meteor shower viewings. Check the official website for the current event calendar and opening times before visiting.

See your named star from here

With a 24-inch telescope capable of resolving faint deep-sky targets, Frosty Drew Observatory is well equipped to point toward the right ascension and declination of a named star. Name a star or browse the catalogue to find one to view.