Frosty Drew Observatory

On clear Friday nights, all year long, you can make a free date with the stars (and your sweetie) at the FROSTY DREW OBSERVATORY in Charlestown. Consider the romantic suggestions of seeing the planet Venus, goddess of love, or the “rings” around Saturn (hint, hint), or the new moon as an illuminated slice of the whole round moon. Reflected sunlight lights up that crescent in a phenomenon called “the old moon in the new moon’s arms.” And then, there’s just the shivery prospect of looking deep into the night sky — through the observatory’s main dome and its Meade LX200 16-inch telescope — at those twinkling constellations, which contain plenty of mythical romances to ponder. Plus, a cool night or frosty winter eve makes it all the better to cuddle close for warmth. Watch for Ninigret Park signs on Route 1. The FDO opens just after sunset in spring, summer, and fall, and at 6:30 on winter nights, and stays open until the staff wants to go home, usually long after midnight. The Website has current sky/weather conditions (there’s no phone). | frostydrew.org/observatory/index.htm