The flagship research programs at PARI are in astronomy. However, the PARI campus is also well situated to accommodate other scientific disciplines such as atmospheric science, environmental science, computer science or engineering projects. Scientists in disciplines requiring a stable environment, with little light and radio interference pollution, situated in a remote but easily accessible area, are invited to contact PARI for use of the campus and its instruments.

PARI fills a niche in observational astronomy by supporting long-term survey, monitoring and target of opportunity programs for visiting scientists. The programs may take advantage of existing infrastructure and instruments at PARI, or instruments may be added by researchers. Internet access is available across the 200-acre campus, so experiments may be controlled remotely. Visiting scientists may also stay on the PARI campus. Visiting scientists may be individuals, postdoctoral researchers, or members of a consortium or observing campaign. Labs, offices and housing are available.

Astronomers at PARI are principal investigators on two research projects. One is the measurement and analysis of light curves of eclipsing binary stars using the PARI 0.4m optical telescope. The other is a project to classify up to one million stars on a collection of objective prism photographic plates in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive. To do this project, PARI astronomers have opened the research as a citizen project called Stellar Classification Online – Public Exploration (SCOPE). In addition to the ongoing research conducted by PARI astronomers, the campus is currently hosting a major research initiative funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Researchers from UNC-Asheville are developing the two 26-meter radio telescopes at PARI into an interferometer to study the structure of a component of the interstellar medium in the Milky Way Galaxy. Astronomers from Furman University are monitoring pulsars, or rapidly rotating neutron stars, for variations in their radio emission due to changes on the surfaces of those stars.

The formation of new consortia for the enhancement of their members' research and education programs is encouraged. A consortium may be a theoretical astrophysics research group, an observational astronomy group, instrumentation engineers or other such groups. The telescopes at PARI may be used by consortium members for worldwide observing campaigns. Or, members may develop and support existing or new telescopes at PARI. Existing consortia are also invited to take advantage of the infrastructure and instruments on the PARI campus.

PARI is a not-for-profit foundation. As such, we ask that visiting scientists secure funding to support their research. PARI’s Site Administration works closely with visiting scientists to help minimize cost associated with staff and equipment support.