Friends of Ballard Park will hold a star gazing program in Ballard Park’s quarry meadow on Saturday, September 23rd from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Robert Horton, Manager of Astronomical Laboratories at Brown University, and telescope operator Scott MacNeill of Brown University’s Ladd Observatory will guide event goers through the fall skies.

The astronomers will bring their telescopes for up closing viewing of the crescent moon and deep sky objects like nebulae, star clusters and galaxies.

Ballard Park, Newport’s Only Nature Preserve, is located on the corner of Hazard and Wickham Roads. Event goers should enter at 21 Hazard Road to access the event, dress warmly and 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 call 401.619.3377 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...