The Learning Center @ Pari Open to the Public
North Carolina -- We invite you to join us for docent-led tours, meteorite exhibits, fluorescent mineral gallery and planetarium shows at our historic, mountaintop campus!
Beginning January 5th, 2019
Wednesdays First Saturday of each month
Gates Open 11:00 am 11:00 am
Planetarium Shows 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm
Docent Guided Tours 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Additional tours, shows, and activities can be specially arranged on regular public days, or other days of the week.
On Sunday, January 20th, we are excited to welcome visitors to our campus for a special presentation of PISGAH NIGHTS! This event includes hands-on science experiments, Learning Center presentations and observing the upcoming “Super Blood Wolf Moon” lunar eclipse through the Learning Center’s optical and historic radio telescopes.
The event package includes dinner at the Learning Center’s restaurant Smiley’s, with tours through the Learning Center’s space artifact exhibit, gemstone/meteorite galleries, and gift shop. Weather permitting, the evening will conclude with a trip to the Sky Deck, where Learning Center astronomers and volunteers will point out the constellations and use their optical and radio telescopes to observe the night sky and the lunar eclipse.
AGENDA:
• Presentation / 6:00p – 7:00p / Multimedia Room – Cline Administration Building
• Hands On Science Experiments/ 7:00p – 8:00p / Cline Administration Building
• Exhibit Tours / 8:00p – 9:00p / Cline Administration Building
• Dinner / 9:00p – 10:00p / Smiley's (guests may eat at any time during this timeframe)
• Night Sky/Lunar Observing / 10:30p – Late / Sky Deck
Event Location
The Learning Center at PARI
1 PARI Drive
Rosman, NC 28772
Stargazing and Public Programs
Take a look at the Universe . . .
Stargazing
PARI’s SkyTrek observing sessions offer opportunities to gaze skyward using PARI telescopes regularly throughout the year. Check the Events Calendar for the most up-to-date information regarding observing opportunities.
Stargazing is also included with each monthly Evening at PARI event.
Space Day
From the very first year of PARI’s existence we have designated the first Saturday in May as Space Day, an all-day open house that attracts hundreds of visitors. In addition to all the regular attractions at PARI, during Space Day our research and educational programs are highlighted at locations throughout the campus, with PARI staff, students and volunteers on hand to demonstrate and explain.
Check the PARI events calendar for complete details. To view photos from past Space Days, click here: Space Day
Galaxy Walk
The Galaxy Walk is a scale model of our solar system. It begins with a display outside the Cline Administration building near the center of PARI’s campus and radiates outward with displays depicting planets and other objects in the solar system— all placed the appropriate distances from the Sun display.
Visitors and school groups can stroll the PARI campus while receiving an unusual perspective on the positioning of the planets, plus a better understanding of the immense distances separating the planets from the Sun and each other.
For more information and photos, please click here: Galaxy Walk
Mission:
PARI is a public not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing hands-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.
The PARI site was initially developed by NASA in 1962 as the east coast facility to track satellites and monitor manned space flights. Located in the half-million acre Pisgah Forest about 30 miles southwest of Asheville, North Carolina, the PARI campus is a well-protected site for astronomy and should remain so for generations to come. The 200-acre campus contains 30 buildings with more than 100,000 square feet of floor space, including a state-of-the-art Research Building. PARI has redundant systems for water, power, fire protection and security. An extensive fiber optic communications network connects campus buildings and provides remote access to telescopes and instruments via the Internet.