Friends of Ballard Park will hold a star gazing program in Ballard Park’s quarry meadow on Saturday, September 10th from 8 to 9:30 pm. Robert Horton, Manager of Astronomical Laboratories at Brown University, and telescope operator Scott MacNeill will guide event goers through the fall constellations. The astronomers will bring their telescopes for up closing viewings of Saturn and Mars.

Ballard Park, Newport’s Only Nature Preserve, is located on the corner of Hazard and Wickham Roads. Event goers should use the Hazard Road entrance to access the event, bring a comfy chair or blanket and a flashlight.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per person and $15 per group.

Friends of Ballard Park is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, maintaining and promoting Newport’s Only Nature Preserve. Cultural events and educational programming help to promote stewardship of the park and decrease negative park activities. Visit www.ballardpark.org or call401.619.3377 for more information.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...