Interactive Science at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

Become a member of a team of staff and volunteers at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), a non-profit located on the site of a former NASA satellite tracking station, in order to engage in research at the only radio observatory in North Carolina.

Explore space weather, where you will have an opportunity to monitor solar activity using the optical and Radio JOVE telescopes, and participate in a thermosphere wind and temperature study using the Clemson Fabry-Perot Interferometer and the Naval Research Lab heterodyne.

Broaden your knowledge of astronomy as you engage in stellar classification using images from the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive, a largely unexplored treasure trove; study the Milky Way and supernova remnants using a Smiley 4.6-m radio telescope; participate in meteor research using a new meteor camera in collaboration with NASA MSFC; and take part in variable star research including measuring the light curve of Polaris using PARI’s optical telescopes.

Experience earth science through tectonic plate motion research using the Plate Boundary Observatory; weather pattern study using the weather stations; earthquake research using the seismometer in conjunction with others; the earth’s magnetic field using the new magnetometer.

After creating interactive student materials related to specific instrumentation as it can be used to meet curriculum objectives, you will share information about the instrument and data collection resources with visiting student groups.