At the March 9 Town Council meeting, Councilor Bonnie Van Slyke will ask her fellow Town Councilors to join her in proclaiming the week of April 13 to 20 as International Dark Sky Week in Charlestown. 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. Read post for details.
Every Friday night that the weather permits, the astronomers at Frosty Drew open their Observatory, Science Center, Sky Theatre, and telescopes to the sky and offer stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with them. Tickets are not required for visitors to attend these winter Friday night events. Though a suggested donation of $5 per person, at the event, is very much appreciated.
When: Friday, October 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
Cost: Tickets are $5 per person over 4 years old, either at the event or online. Get tickets one or two days before the event. Link to get tickets in this post.
Dig out that old costume, put on your mask, and come out to the creepy woodlands of Ninigret Park to celebrate the Eve of All Hallows… If you dare…
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Saturday, October 4, from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Cost: $5 Suggested Donation per person 5 years and older
Stop in for a fun autumn night under the beautiful moonlit skies of Ninigret Park and become acquainted with our only natural satellite, the Moon!
“Nights are dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead, beaches are unspoiled, and the local seafood spots like to keep things unfussy but delicious. Life here just seems to run a little slower,” reports Travel + Leisure.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Thursday, March 13, at 11:00 pm until Friday, March 14, at 6:00 am
Why: A Total Lunar Eclipse is taking place and it will be visible to all in New England
Cost: $5 Admission per person 5 years and older
One more reason to protect Charlestown’s dark skies is that they are good for our health. The clearest positive effect of spending time in the natural night is a sense of awe. Whether contemplating the vastness of the cosmos or admiring the delicate dance of nocturnal life on Earth, spending time in nature at night gives us a sense of wonder and perspective.
Astrotourism is more than just a trend—it’s a way for Charlestown to share what makes our town special with others, while supporting local businesses and protecting our natural environment. With a little planning, we could make stargazing part of Charlestown’s story, one that brings people here year-round and leaves everyone with unforgettable memories.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Saturday, September 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
What: Fourth Annual Inspire, Discover, Enlighten, and Awe (IDEA) Fundraising Exposition
Cost: Admission is free with the expectation that visitors will donate to help Frosty Drew achieve their yearly goals.
On May 28, the Charlestown Town Council voted 4 to 1, with Councilor Susan Cooper objecting, to acquire four more portable light towers. The configuration and type of these lights violate Charlestown’s lighting ordinance. The ordinance that applies to any non-residential exterior lighting requires that lighting be fully shielded, focused downward, and not result in light trespass or light pollution. The Town Council’s decision to violate the ordinance will make it more likely that commercial businesses throughout town will ignore the town’s 12-year effort to protect Charlestown’s beautiful dark skies.
The final plan includes an appendix with comments, but missing from the comment collection is an important letter from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island in opposition to the installation of any lighting near the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. Also missing is a 2012 letter from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in opposition to lighting in Ninigret Park sent as an attachment with other correspondence. The missing letters both clearly state that there is no lighting that will not impact nesting and migratory birds in the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
When: Wednesday, December 13 from 6:30 pm to Thursday, December 14, at 2:00 am
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
Cost: $5 Admission per person 5 years and older
The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the best (if not the best) meteor shower of the year. Geminid Meteors are bright with a (seasonally festive) greenish hue that leave long-lasting dust trails in the sky.
As an organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and the habitats they rely on, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island strongly opposes the installation of any novel lighting at Ninigret, even those deemed to be “dark sky friendly.” A growing body of literature suggests that artificial light at night has the capacity to draw birds off course during migration and increase further the mortality associated with an already high-risk period in a migratory bird’s annual cycle.
Did you miss the November 30 meeting on a new Ninigret Park Master Plan with the consultants working on the plan, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, and with an estimated cost of $20 to $30 Million? A video of the meeting is in this post along with highlights of the plan and meeting.
Frosty Drew is the most accessible dark-sky area east of the Mississippi. Light pollution poses a serious threat to nocturnal wildlife, as it has negative impacts on plant and animal physiology. It can confuse the migratory patterns of animals, alter competitive interactions of animals, and change predator-prey relations. Full story at ecoRI News …
When: Thursday, November 30, at 7 pm
Where: Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Rd, Charlestown
Anyone interested in the future of Ninigret Park will want to attend this meeting in person because the draft of the new 2023 Master Plan will be presented and because VHB will gather additional input from the public before it finalizes the 2023 Master Plan for delivery to the town in December.
The night sky has inspired humanity for thousands of years. Science has progressed because of it. Studying it has shown our place in the Universe and led to more stories, spiritual, philosophical, religious, social and emotional revolutions than any other part of our world. Young students have been inspired by it and have gone on in life to outstanding careers in science, engineering, and technology, which have greatly benefited our society.
Did you miss the October 30 meeting on a new Ninigret Park Master Plan with the consultants working on the plan, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin? A video of the meeting is in this post. The next meeting at which VHB is scheduled to be present is November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Charlestown Elementary School.
The maximum number of cars that can be parked in Ninigret Park governs capacity. No matter where a large event area is placed, parking will dominate the remaining areas of the Park, and the quiet enjoyment of Ninigret Park by residents and wildlife will be eliminated.
“With the park’s master plan undergoing an update, a potential option is increased lighting. Lighting would ruin the park’s unique view of the night sky, which every year attracts thousands of visitors. Town Council President Carney says, “We hear it about the dark sky, people who value the dark sky,” but she notes the park is for the recreational use of all Charlestown residents.” Read the full story in Nov. 4 Providence Journal.
When: Monday, October 30 at 6 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail (Rt. 2)
What: Consultant will present three options for the Ninigret Park Master Plan
Planning for the future of Ninigret Park is well underway, and as part of the process, it is essential to understand how the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (CNALF) came to be Ninigret Park and the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
Global insect populations have declined by as much as 75 percent during the past 50 years, according to scientists, potentially leading to catastrophic impacts on wildlife, the environment and human health. Most studies point to habitat loss, climate change, industrial farming and pesticide use as the main factors driving the loss of insects, but a recent study in the United Kingdom points to another cause: light pollution.
Between August and November, an estimated 14 million birds pass through South County on their long fall migration. Many of these migrants are young birds who hatched this year and who have never migrated before. Increasing light pollution is decreasing the number of birds that will survive migration, especially first-time migrants.
What was proposed in the 2014 draft? A Performance Venue, Camping, and Lighting—A 19-acre performance area is to be located in an undeveloped area; an 8-acre camping area is to be located north of Little Nini Pond; and lighting will be placed throughout the Park. Parking—Cars, and buses, are to be parked in parking lots and in among the existing recreational facilities in Ninigret Park. Attendees–The baseline is 8,000 people, a number that can be waived for larger, one-time events.
More than 80 percent of the world’s population, and 99 percent of Americans and Europeans, now live under light-polluted skies. Many people live and die without ever seeing the Milky Way, but in Charlestown, we are so lucky to still have a clear view of the Milky Way.
When: Friday, August 11 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Where: Frosty Drew Campus in Ninigret Park
Why: To Celebrate Charlestown’s Beautiful Star-Filled Skies And See Some Passing Meteors
Who: Charlestown RI Dark Sky Advocates in Cooperation with Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center
The annual Perseid meteor shower has begun and will peak Saturday, August 12 until the early hours of Sunday, August 13.
Forbes names the eight best places in North America to see the Perseid meteor shower and Charlestown’s Frosty Drew Observatory is number two on the list! The annual Perseid meteor shower has begun and will peak Saturday, August 12 until the early hours of Sunday, August 13. Visit Frosty Drew or another dark place in Charlestown to see the beautiful show.
When: Saturday, July 22 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Frosty Drew Campus in Ninigret Park
Why: To Celebrate Charlestown’s Beautiful Star-Filled Skies
Who: Charlestown RI Dark Sky Advocates in Cooperation with Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center
All are welcome at this “Star Party” to enjoy our spectacular night sky in peaceful surroundings where we can be awestruck by its striking views.
This June 14 marks the fourteenth anniversary of the grand opening of the John G. Drew Sky Theatre in Ninigret Park. Over the last 14 years, the original dream of connecting views seen through the large telescope to a screen in the Sky Theatre has been accomplished—and more.
UPDATE: Rain and clouds will likely block the view of our beautiful sky tonight. If tonight’s event doesn’t work, there will be more scheduled soon.
When: Saturday, June 17 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. (weather permitting)
Where: Frosty Drew Campus in Ninigret Park
Why: To Celebrate The Summer Solstice and Charlestown’s Beautiful Star-Filled Skies
Who: Charlestown RI Dark Sky Advocates in Cooperation with Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center
As we celebrate the shortest night of the year, we can party with the stars. Westerly may have Taylor Swift, but Charlestown has the entire cosmos.