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Online PARI Presentation
PISGAH ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a public not-for-profit public foundation dedicated to providing research and educational access to radio and optical astronomy for a broad cross-section of users.
- Astronomers, Physicists, Engineers, Post-Docs, Graduate Students
- Use as a base for science and environmental education and studies
- Astronomical Observations
- Technology Research & Development
- Student Research Projects
- NASA began building the facility in 1962 for Gemini and Apollo space mission communications.
- The facility was built in a bowl shaped valley. The remote location and 3100 feet elevation also enhances the sky darkness for optical astronomy.
- It is now the home of PARI.
- PARI is located on 200 acres in the Pisgah Forest near Asheville, NC.
- The site is relatively free of light and radio interference.
- Astronomers come to PARI to use radio telescopes for their research.
- Graduate students conduct their doctoral research at PARI.
- Undergraduates work with PARI staff scientists on research projects.
- High school students complete senior research projects at PARI.
- High school science teachers attend education workshops at PARI.
- K-12 students enjoy using the 4.6 m (15 ft.) radio astronomy antenna.
- K-12, supported by PARI staff, use the STARLAB Planetarium resources.
- PARI facilitates astronomy workshops and regional society meetings.
2004-2005 PARI EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Education Research In Growth Stages
- Strengthen the existing bond with the UNC system;
- Foster new opportunities for research and education within the system;
- Ensure the future availability of PARI’s resources regionally, nationally, and for the University of North Carolina system.
PARI OBSERVATORIES AND FACILITIES
THE MULTIMEDIA ROOM
The Multimedia Room, located in Building One, is used for classes, seminars, and as a student work area.
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CONTROL ROOM
Main control center for all radio and optical instruments
THE 26 METER RADIO TELESCOPES
26 meter radio telescope on the east side of campus is shown on the left. On a baseline about 1200 meters west is the second 26 meter PARI radio telescope (right).
 | The PARI campus has two 26-m (85 ft.) radio telescopes that have recently been modified for precise pointing and sidereal tracking. Each telescope has a suite of feeds and receivers. These telescopes can be controlled together as an interferometer or operated separately from the master control center.
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THE 12.2 METER RADIO TELESCOPE
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THE "SMILEY" 4.6 METER RADIO TELESCOPE
- School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (SGRA) Internet Classroom
- Remotely controllable via the Internet
- Teacher workshops to use lab workbooks for classroom student training
- Radio astronomy electronics and software projects
- 1.4, 4.8, 12 GHz frequencies now in use
STARLAB PORTABLE PLANETARIUM
- 23 feet diameter x 13 feet high inflated portable planetarium
- Have given presentations to more than 35,000 children in Western NC since 2001
PARI OPTICAL OBSERVATORIES
- Location: Optical observatories are 500 m from the PARI Main Campus and run East-West with sharp N-S drop-offs
- Altitude 910 m, Latitude 35O 11.8’ N, Longitude 82O 52.3’ W
- Horizon: Lowest point is 0.25O and highest point is 5O
- Skies: Average of two nights per week for spectroscopy, differential photometry, astrometry
- Ideal for astronomical long-term and survey work
Solar Telescope | Polaris and Transient Monitoring Telescope |
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