In terms of sheer numbers reached, PARI’s StarLab has become one of the most popular astronomy programs in the Carolinas.  To date, more than 55,000 people have viewed its presentations.  StarLab is a 22ft portable planetarium, obtained by PARI in late 2000.

StarLab programs are targeted to grades K-12 and are designed to support the North and South Carolina public school curricula at the appropriate grade levels.  StarLab is typically set up in a school gym or multi-purpose room.  Other venues, such as a community facilities or churches can be used to accommodate other groups, such as homeschoolers, scouts and clubs.  PARI also uses StarLab for presentations at the PARI campus.  Current programs include:

• Shapes and Patterns in the Sky.  Suggested for first grade, concepts include constellations, circles, squares, rectangles, ovals and trapezoids.
• The Moon and Stars: Now You See Them; Now You Don’t.  Suggested for third or fourth grade, concepts include the Moon and its motion across the sky as well as constellations and how they appear to move as the Earth rotates.
• The Reason for The Seasons.  Suggested for third or fourth grade, concepts include constellations, seasons, length of the day, rising and setting points of the Sun, phases of the Moon and locations of the planets.
• Stars of Lewis and Clark.  Suggested for fourth or fifth grade, concepts include constellations, the Moon, angular measurement, exploration of the West, time and time zones, latitude and longitude.
• Realm of the Planets.  Suggested for fourth or sixth grade, concepts include size and scale of the solar system, the ecliptic, locating planets and the Sun’s place in the Milky Way.
• Motions in the Sky.  Suggested for Earth Sciences, concepts include constellations, colors of stars, motions of the planets, Sun and Moon, the Milky Way, Doppler Shift, optical and radio astronomy.
• The Sky Tonight.  Available to any level, this program is an in-depth look at the current night sky. 
• The Radio Sky.  Suggested for Astronomy classes and Earth Science classes.  Provides a visual description of the information gathered through radio astronomy. 
• Stars of My People. Includes constellations and mythology from Asia, Africa, Central America and Native Americans, demonstrating how people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds might view the night sky.