The program is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a presentation by Dr. Michael Castelaz, PARI’s director of astronomical studies and education.  “Before the advent of digital imagery,” said Dr. Castelaz, “astronomers recorded their observations of the night sky using photographic emulsions on glass plates and films.  These historic images date back to the mid-1800s and, unfortunately, many are in danger of being lost, destroyed or damaged.”   Dr. Castelaz’s talk will focus on the scientific value of preserving these historic images and the efforts underway to save them.

The Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) established at PARI has been recommended by the International Astronomical Union as the national archive for astronomical photographic plates.  After Dr. Castelaz’s presentation, APDA Director Thurburn Barker will conduct a tour of the facility and explain the work being done at PARI to digitize the plates and make them available to scientists and students worldwide.

The Evening at PARI program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a site tour, followed by the presentation, APDA tour and observing session.  Each participant will also have the opportunity to have a photo taken with a PARI telescope and will receive a subscription to the PARI newsletter and a 10% discount on PARI merchandise.

Reservations are required and will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. the day of the event.  Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for children under 14.  For additional information or to schedule a reservation contact PARI Science Educator Christi Whitworth at (828) 862-5554 or send an email to cwhitworth@pari.edu.  Reservations can also be made online at www.pari.edu. 

Program details and directions to the site can be found at the PARI web site, www.pari.edu. 

About PARI
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit foundation established in 1998.  Located in the Pisgah Forest 30 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, the PARI campus is a dark sky location for astronomy and was selected in 1962 by NASA as the site for one of the first U.S. satellite tracking facilities.  Today, the 200 acre campus houses radio and optical telescopes, earth science instruments, 30 buildings, a fulltime staff and all the infrastructure necessary to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and research.  PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research.  The institute is a member of the NC Grassroots Museum Collaborative, a partner in NC OPT-ED and is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI.  For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.