From specialized tours and events to hands-on activities and lectures, PARI provides unique experiences for visitors of all ages.
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ON THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS FROM PARI
Curious about what we have available here? View our Frequently Asked Questions? They might have the answer you need!
Scheduled Public Events
These unique and one of a kind events are available on specific dates. Registration is required.
Don't see what you're looking for?
Featured Events:
Thank you for taking a look at our calendar. At the moment we are completely booked and don't have any events with tickets available. But, we are hard at work on our summer schedule so check back soon for a new batch of tours and events for June, July, and August!
Perseids Meteor Shower
📅 August 9th 2024
Have you ever wished upon a shooting star? Join PARI astronomers and you might get your chance! Choose from three ways to experience this brilliant display of meteors, guided by PARI astronomers.
Holiday Private Tours
📅 November 22nd & 24th 2023
We have just a few tours available before and after Thanksgiving Day. Gather a group of family and friends and add a trip through space science to your celebration. Reserve your spot before they're gone.
Space Day Free Open House
📅 April 27th 2024
Gather your friends and family and join use for our annual spring open house event and STEM day, SPACE DAY! 🚀🧑🚀
Tour our museum, talk to scientists, play games and do activities, take in a show and have some good food.
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
📅 May 3rd 2024
Halley's Comet is perhaps the most well known icy object, only visible every 75 years. But, Eta Aquarids is full of meteors falling from the comet! Join PARI astronomers and get your chance to see this incredible event! Choose from three ways to experience this brilliant display of meteors.
Self-Guided Saturdays
📅 August 3rd 2024
Come and explore our museum! See how our telescopes work today, and how they communicated with satellites long ago. Learn about historic NASA artifacts like our Apollo lander and real rocket engine. Take in the sparkle of mineral specimens and fossils from around the world. Discover the impact of meteorites of all types that fell to Earth. Delve into our dark fluorescent tunnel.
Upcoming Events:
PARI offers a variety of customized tours and programs for all kinds of groups.
We are pleased to offer self guided museum tours on select Saturdays this summer!
Choose a date below and come explore! When you arrive, press the silver call button at the gate then proceed to the visitors entrance. Tickets are sold at the door for $12.00 per person.
Tours Available On:
Saturday, June 22ndOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, June 29thOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, July 6thOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, July 13thOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, July 20thOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, July 27thOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Saturday, August 3rdOpen from 11:00am to 4:00pm, last entry at 3:00pm
Included in the tour:
Operations and Control Room with:
Telescope Controls
3D Printers and 3D models, inculding Lunar and Martian terrain
Historical exhibits of telescope and satellite communications equipment of the past
NASA Exhibit Gallery with:
Apollo Lunar Lander
ATS 6 Satellite
Redstone Rocket Engine
Many other items flown in space from Mercury through the Space Shuttle program
Gem & Mineral Gallery with:
Hundreds of specimes from North Carolina
Hundreds of specimens from around the world
600 micromounts of rare minerals
Plant, animal, fish, and dinosaur fossils
Impact glasses like tektites including moldavite and australite, and other glasses like fulgarites and trinitite
Meteorite Gallery with:
Stony meteorites, Iron meteorites, and Stony-Iron meteorites that fell in places around the world
Famous meteorites with exciting stories
Meteorites that originated from the Moon, Mars, and locations in the asteroid belt
Fluorescent Tunnel full of rocks that glow and emit light in neon colors
PARI's annual spring open house is free and open to the public. Join us for a day of fun and STEM learning!
📅 Saturday, April 27, 2024
🕙 10:00am until 4:00pm
🎟️ Admission is free, but there will be some paid activities
🚀Hop on board our shuttle for outdoor site tours (*not a real space shuttle, just a ground one🚐)
💎Take in our museum galleries with NASA and space artifacts, minerals and gems, meteorites, and more, open with scientists to answer your questions☄️
🔭Peek through a solar telescope to safely observe the Sun and look for sunspots☀️ (weather allowing)
🪐Journey through our solar system on the Galaxy Walk, our scale model of our home in the universe
🖍️Visit the activity tables with fun stuff for kids
🎶Hear music played by DJ RaZor with 4 Dreamz Entertainment
🌌Immerse yourself in outer space with a planetarium show (requires a separate $5 ticket)
😋Enjoy a meal from local food vendors, and snacks from the PARI dining hall (food must be purchased)🥪
😃Visit booths and displays from some of PARI's friends and partners.
⛰️Hike to our observation deck for beautiful views
🎉Play games outside
📡 Talk to one of our educators about our summer camps and learn about scholarships for your kids. You can even claim a scholarship (while they last) and register while you're here.
🎨 Paint minifigures of spaceships, astronauts, dinosaurs, & more (paid activity)
Come by and bring some family and friends. It's the perfect day to experience what we're all about and learn about our home in the universe!
Take a look at some of PARI's out of this world designs!
Each is available on a huge variety of items, like apparel, art prints, phone and laptop cases, backpacks, mugs, blankets, and more! Click one to customize it at our store on Redbubble. All proceeds benefit PARI's education mission.
