A New And Better Telescope For Viewing Charlestown’s Dark Skies

On October 23, the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park installed a new telescope—a model CDK 600—made by PlaneWave Instruments of Adrian, Michigan. After removal of the old telescope and extensive work to upgrade the foundation in the dome, the CDK 600 24-inch telescope and its new L-600 mount were lowered, by crane, into the Frosty Drew Observatory dome and attached to the new foundation.

The research-grade telescope will be the best telescope in Rhode Island. This bigger, better, and more modern telescope was funded with a $107,541 grant from the Champlin Foundations. The Champlin Foundations have provided funding for other telescopes that support the educational programs at the observatory (including a Lunt 102 mm Solar Telescope) and was also a major source of funding for the Sky Theatre.

The new PlaneWave telescope will enhance observational astronomy at the observatory and support the growing scientific pursuits of Frosty Drew. The previous telescope that served well in the observatory dome for the last 20 years has been mounted on a mobile cart for use in Frosty Drew programs.

Once the new telescope is configured, integrated, and calibrated and Frosty Drew Astronomers trained in its use, it will then be showtime for the new telescope.

Frosty Drew Observatory opens every Friday night year round to the public free of charge. Being a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, it does accept, and greatly appreciates, any donations. If the sky is clear and the wind is manageable, the observatory will be in full observation mode, looking to the sky through one or more of their telescopes at stars, distant galaxies, shining nebulae, the planets and their moons, and maybe a passing comet. During cloudy, rain, or snow conditions, the Observatory hosts presentations in the Sky Theatre with astronomers on hand to answer questions and give tours of the observatory and astronomical equipment. It also frequently hosts live-streamed events on the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center YouTube.

Please visit frostydrew.org for details on visiting the Observatory.

Charlestown is an important location for the study and viewing of the cosmos because we have the darkest skies along the coast between New York and Boston.

The “Earth at Night” graphic above shows areas of low light pollution in green. The arrow points to the location of Frosty Drew in Ninigret Park. Frosty Drew is inside one of the darkest, least developed areas of Rhode Island and then looks out toward the Atlantic Ocean, which provides total darkness. This darkness is great for stargazing and protects wildlife as well.