Francine Jackson

Francine Jackson

Francine, a Skyscrapers member, is the Director of Frosty Drew Observatory. She also has been associated with Ladd Observatory for close to four decades. In addition, she performs planetarium shows at the University of Rhode Island facility, one of the smallest in the world, and teaches astronomy at Framingham State University. She has studied transits of Venus for many years, and has written several articles on their historical significance.

Last updated: June 13, 2012
University of Rhode Island Planetarium

University of Rhode Island Planetarium

Nestled quietly on the corner of Upper College Road and Engineering Row is a unique little building resembling a silo stepped on by the Jolly Green Giant. Many students who pass by this building have no idea they are looking at one of the most modern planetariums in the area. The University of Rhode Island Planetarium, a part of the campus for decades, has within its doors the ability to travel through the solar system, and beyond.

Spring

Francine Jackson describes the astronomical connection to some of the dates associated with the change of season.

December Long Night Moon

With the winter season beginning this month, the nights are the longest, and the days slowly begin to get colder. As such, we celebrate both the Full Cold Moon and the Full Long Night Moon. And, because we also celebrate the holiday season at this time of year, this can also be called the Moon Before Yule, although this year it takes place afterwards, on December 28th.

November Moon

As the swamps began to freeze, settlers looking to stay warm during the winter would set traps along them, to try to catch the full, soft, fluffy beaver, who were looking to prepare their winters' naps; this is why the Full Moon of November is called the Beaver Moon. Also, because the weather tends to take a turn toward the chilly, and ice begins to form on our windows, this Moon is also referred to as the Full Frosty Moon.

Moon of the Falling Leaves

Traditionally, the October Full Moon is considered the Hunter's Moon, because, after the beautiful Harvest Moon allowed our ancestors to stay out later in the evenings and gather their crops, only the stubble remained, making the cute little woodland creatures easier to kill for the long winter that was to come. They have now eaten their fill, and are plump, ready for the hunt. Fox, rabbit, deer, and others are very easy to find in the harvested land.
Remembering Neil Armstrong

Remembering Neil Armstrong

Skyscrapers members Francine Jackson and Jim Hendrickson offer perspectives on the passing of Neil Armstrong, first man on the Moon.

September Harvest Moon

The Full Moon of August has often been called the Full Sturgeon Moon by tribes around the Great Lakes because these fish were at their most plentiful at this time of year. In 2012 we have a second Full Moon in August, on the 31st. Anytime there is a second Full Moon in one month, it is referred to as a Blue Moon.
The 2 Full Moons of August

The 2 Full Moons of August

The Full Moon of August has often been called the Full Sturgeon Moon by tribes around the Great Lakes because these fish were at their most plentiful at this time of year. In 2012 we have a second Full Moon in August, on the 31st. Anytime there is a second Full Moon in one month, it is referred to as a Blue Moon.
July's Apollo Moon

July's Apollo Moon

The full Moon in July is sometimes known as the Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, or more recently the Apollo Moon, in honor of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in July 1969 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first walked on our planetary neighbor.
Charlestown Approves Town Lighting Ordinance

Charlestown Approves Town Lighting Ordinance

Directory of Frosty Drew Observatory Francine Jackson gives a positive update on the long-running effort to protect dark skies in southern Rhode Island. Again, we’d like to thank the Charlestown Town Council, the Town Planning Committee, and all of you who sent notes in allowing the town lighting ordinance to be passed.

November Constellations & Folklore

After enjoying the overhead rescue of Andromeda by the prince charming Perseus, you might notice that Perseus has his foot on a tiny little clump of stars. At first glance, many people believe they have found the Little Dipper, not realizing that the Little Dipper is a part of our northern circumpolar sky, visible whenever you care to look in that direction; instead, that tiny cuplike group is the Pleiades.

October Constellations & Folklore

Once again, the sign of the new season is beginning to make its way higher and higher in the sky. As October begins, the Great Square, symbol of fall, is getting easier to find in the southeast.
September Constellations & Folklore

September Constellations & Folklore

At this time of year, even though the season of summer ends this month and fall begins, the sky takes a little longer to shift to its next season. The Summer Triangle is still in a beautiful observing position, not really giving the fall constellations a chance to come to full view. So, while we’re waiting, it might be good to turn back to the north and see what is happening there.
August Contellations & Folklore

August Contellations & Folklore

Now that the signpost of summer, the Summer Triangle, is reaching its high position in the sky, it's time to use its stars to find some of the dimmer, but still easy to sight, constellations.
The Circumpolar Constellations

The Circumpolar Constellations

We normally spend a lot of time enjoying the seasonal constellations, the ones that our ancestors depended on as indicators of changes here on Earth, but we often forget that there is a set of star patterns that are always there, waiting for us when we turn around to the north. These are the circumpolar constellations, the ones that, although their positions do change with time, they seem to travel in a circle centered at the sky’s north pole, and are always visible from our northern latitudes.

May Constellations & Folklore

As the sky begins to remind us that a new month is approaching, we are able to see a constellation that is often forgotten, but much more important than we usually let on.

The Constellations of Spring

As the warm weather starts letting us know that seasonal change is really happening, we can look to the skies to remind us that springtime is once again coming to us.
In Like a Lion… Out Like a Lamb

In Like a Lion… Out Like a Lamb

We have many indicators that the month of March marks a change of season. In the sky, we are seeing the constellation marked as the "sign of spring." We've all heard the old adage that the month of March, comes, "in like a lion..." Rising out of the eastern horizon is Leo, the Lion.
February Constellations & Folklore

February Constellations & Folklore

One of the biggest moments for a new astronomy lover is the sudden realization that we have suddenly connected the stars and found the constellations, as has happened for generations all around the world. And, then, to try to remember the figure, we often depend on a story, or a myth, to keep the stars in their proper position. Very often, we depend on the ancient European, notably the Greco-Roman stories, to keep the sky in line.

Book Review: The Sun and the Moon

We all every so often find a book we either love or hate. It might be nice to let each other know about them. For example, I was recently loaned a book by my friend John, from the Providence Athenaeum, who assured me that I’d love it, because it included, among others, man-bats. OK. It also has a very, almost nothing title, The Sun and the Moon.