For stargazers, Rhode Island offers four observatories, other options too
Jack PerryThe night sky offers a variety of interesting scenes this month, and Rhode Island provides plenty of vantage points for enjoying the show, including observatories, beaches and backyards.
With Saturday marking Astronomy Day, started in 1973 to encourage people to enjoy astronomy, and the nights getting longer, but not too cold, it's a good time of year to look skyward and see what's out there in this galaxy, and maybe even some that are far, far away.
Brendan Britton, professor of astronomy at the Community College of Rhode Island, says, "October skies feature a wealth of observable objects in the constellations Pegasus and Andromeda, which should be high up after dark."
The crescent moon "will look great" this weekend "through binoculars or a small telescope," he says.
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Scott MacNeill, director of the Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center in Charlestown, says, "In the sky this weekend, Jupiter and Saturn will be quite visible in the constellation Capricorn, which will be in the southern sky early in the night. Jupiter will be the brighter of the two."
Those looking at the moon could get a special treat, according to MacNeill.
"When the lunar phase is this thin, a phenomenon called Earthshine is visible, which is when sunlight reflecting off Earth illuminates the night side of the Moon, causing it to glow," MacNeill says.
Francine Jackson, staff astronomer for Brown University's Ladd Observatory, and Steven Siok, president of Seagrave Memorial Observatory in North Scituate, together offer some advice for stargazers:
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"With just a star chart, everyone can get an idea of the major, brighter stars available and become familiar with several easy-to-spot constellation figures; also, right now, we have brilliant Jupiter and Saturn in the south for most of the night, plus Venus in the west for about an hour after sunset.
"Once a person gets oriented to some of the brighter celestial objects, it can be easy to 'star-hop' to others that might be a bit dimmer," Jackson and Siok write in an email. "A nice start is the head of Cygnus, the Swan, a double star of two incredible colors. Also, rising earlier each day is a globular cluster at the nose of Pegasus, the Flying Horse, and the galaxy M31 in Andromeda, visible with the naked eye in very dark skies."
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A lunar eclipse will also be visible from here on Nov. 19, "where the Moon will turn a beautiful shade of red," according to Jackson and Siok. "This can be visible from anywhere here, but it might be fun to join with others also intent on observing it."
Now that we know a bit about what's out there, where can Rhode Islanders go to watch?
Rhode Island has four observatories, but some have been closed due to COVID restrictions and are only now starting to reopen. They're only open at select times, and they can close when clouds are in the forecast, so it's always good to check their websites ahead of time.
Seagrave Memorial Observatory, 47 Peep Toad Rd., North Scituate, is typically open on Saturday nights.
Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center, 61-62 Park Lane, Ninigret Park, Charlestown, is typically open on Friday nights. (401) 859-1450.
The Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, is open after dark Wednesdays when the sky is clear. (401) 825-1000.
Brown University's Ladd Observatory, 210 Doyle Ave., Providence, has been closed because of COVID-19 restrictions. Under normal circumstances, it's open Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. (401) 863-2641.
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(Update: The Seagrave Memorial Observatory has postponed its Observe the Moon Night, originally scheduled for Oct. 15, until Nov. 13 because of a poor forecast for Saturday.)
"Skyscrapers will join astronomers from around the world to share the wonder of observing the moon with binoculars and telescopes," Siok said. "Everyone is invited to join us."
"Some of our members will be in the courtyard and will be pointing out constellations and binocular objects. Up in the dome, the Clark telescope is normally observing the moon, planets or double stars," Siok said. "The two other telescopes will show dimmer more distant objects, such as star clusters and galaxies.
"One of our members may live-stream images from one of the telescopes into the meeting hall," he said. "Then people can gather inside and we can discuss the objects visible in more detail. Any of our volunteers will be happy to answer questions about the sky, stars, galaxies and telescopes."
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Stargazers don't need special events or observatories to enjoy the night sky. The idea is to pick a clear night and find a dark, open area.
"Even if you start out in your neighborhood by looking at the moon as it changes each night, it can be a fascinating start to stargazing," Siok said. "Astronomical information for beginners can be found on the Night Sky Network website and the Astronomical League website.
CCRI's Britton notes that Ninigret Park in Charlestown and Foster's Jerimoth Hill, the highest point in Rhode Island, at 812 feet, are good spots for a clear view of the stars and planets.
It seems Rhode Island's state parks would offer great vantage points, but a state regulation prohibits people from being on state properties between sunset and sunrise, except for permitted campers at state campgrounds or through a special-use permit for a specific event or activity, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Still, local communities might allow access to their beaches and parks at night for stargazing.
— jperry@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @jgregoryperry