Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

Introduction  Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is  A public not-for-profit public foundation  dedicated to providing research and educational access to radio and optical astronomy for a broad cross- section of users

 PARI has the infrastructure and building space available for:  Astronomers, Physicists, Engineers, Post-Docs, Graduate Students  Use as a base for science and environmental education and studies.  Astronomical Observations  Technology Research & Development  Student Research Projects

NASA began building the facility in 1962 for Gemini and Apollo space mission communications. In a bowl shaped valley that serves to shield the antennas within. The remote location and 3100 feet elevation also enhances the sky darkness for optical astronomy. It is now the home of PARI.  PARI is located on 200 acres in the Pisgah Forest near Asheville, NC  The site is relatively free of light and radio interference. History and Location * PARI

Observatory Details Two 26m (85 ft.) antennas 12.2m (85 ft.) in a radome 4.6m (15 ft.) “Smiley” Jupiter/Solar 17-30MHz Antennas Five optical telescopes

Front of Building One – the Control Center of PARI Front of Building One

MultiMedia Room Seating for 50 Ethernet throughout IBM & Sun workstations Physics class demo materials LCD projector for DVD,VHS, S-VHS, tape, viewgraph, computer, wireless mikes and 6.1 surround sound

Control Room Main control center for all antennas and optical instruments

26m Radio Telescopes 26 Meter Radio Telescopes

The PARI campus has two 26-m (85 ft.) radio telescopes that have recently been modified for precise pointing and sidereal tracking. Each telescope has a suite of feeds and receivers. These telescopes can be controlled together as an interferometer or operated separately from the master control center. 26 East

327 MHz pulsar feed 1420 MHz hydrogen 4.8GHz formaldehyde 6.7GHz methanol Dual 15hp motors per axis for sidereal tracking and improved efficiency. 26 West

Engineers taking a bucket truck to one of the 26m Telescope’s Feedbox 26 m Radio Telescope Feed

12.2 m Radio Telescope Radome is a pseudo random pattern to reduce the dome’s structure effects of the antenna pattern Precision 0.4mm antenna surface supports operations to 60 GHz. This radio telescope may become the Microwave Astrophysics for Science Education Research (MASER) Observatory designed to survey the Galactic Plane for water masers occurring in regions of star formation.

The 4.6-m Radio Telescope “Smiley” The Smiley 4.6m Radio Telescope Smiley

To study the powerful radio emission variations as a function of frequency, R. Flagg, and Jim Sky (Radio Sky Publishing) have designed hardware to work with a pair of M-Squared 17-30LP7 log periodic yagis to be used between 17 and 30 MHz. Solar energy bursts are being measured during the day using this antenna facility. 20 MHz Receiver

Cosmic Ray Monitor Seismometer Earthquake Monitor Cosmic Ray Monitor PARI ALSO HAS SEVERAL ATMOSPHERIC AND ENVIRONMENT MONITORING DEVICES Seismometer and Cosmic Ray Monitor

Weather Lightning Detector Weather Station Lightning detector and weather station

Optical Astronomy Several 20cm to 50cm optical telescopes are involved in variable star and gamma ray burst optical counterpart research. A 44 inch mirror will serve as an addition for our optical research facilities. Funding is being actively sought to complete construction of this telescope. A 44 inch mirror will serve as an addition for our optical research facilities. Funding is being actively sought to complete construction of this telescope.

PARI Optical Ridge Location: Optical observatories are 500 m from the PARI Main Campus and runs East-West with sharp N-S drop-offs Altitude 910 m, Latitude 35 O 11.8’ N, Longitude 82 O 52.3’ W Horizon: Lowest point is 0.25 O and highest point is 5 O Skies: Average of two nights per week for spectroscopy, differential photometry, astrometry Ideal for long-term and survey work Optical Telescope Ridge

OVIEW: Two 12.5 cm telescopes These telescopes are used to direct live images of the Sun and Moon to the Internet Solar and Lunar Telescopes

These are roll-off roof observatories. The one on the left (North) is used for gamma ray burst observations and the other (South) is used for variable star observations. Roll-off Roof Observatories

Telescope inside the South Observatory 0.30m Optical Telescope

Present Activities Astronomers come to PARI to use radio telescopes for their research Astronomers come to PARI to use radio telescopes for their research Graduate students conduct their doctoral research at PARI Graduate students conduct their doctoral research at PARI Undergraduates work with PARI staff scientists on research projects Undergraduates work with PARI staff scientists on research projects High school students complete senior research projects at PARI High school students complete senior research projects at PARI High school science teachers attend education workshops at PARI High school science teachers attend education workshops at PARI K-12 students enjoy using the 4.6 m (15 ft.) radio astronomy antenna K-12 students enjoy using the 4.6 m (15 ft.) radio astronomy antenna K-12, supported by PARI staff, use the STARLAB Planetarium resources K-12, supported by PARI staff, use the STARLAB Planetarium resources PARI facilitates astronomy workshops and regional society meetings PARI facilitates astronomy workshops and regional society meetings

II. Overview of Programs and Initiatives PARI Research and Education Programs

StarLab 23ft diameter x 13 feet high inflated portable planetarium Have given shows to more than 25,000 children in Western NC

STARLAB Planetarium

Inside the STARLAB Planetarium Dr. Hayward sets up STARLAB Checking out the projector Guests enter the STARLAB The show begins

Smiley 4.6m School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (SGRA) Internet Classroom Remotely controllable via the Internet Teacher workshops to use lab workbooks for classroom student training Radio astronomy electronics and software projects 1.4, 4.8, 12 GHz frequencies now in use

PARI hosts professional astronomer workshops and symposia

More than 200 Volunteers work side-by- side with PARI Engineers and Scientists

PARI has entered into a partnership with the University of North Carolina 16 campus system to form the Pisgah Astronomical Science Research, and Education Center (PARSEC). The goals of PARSEC are to:  Strengthen the existing bond with the UNC system;  Foster new opportunities for research and education within the system;  Ensure the future availability of PARI’s resources regionally, nationally, and for the University of North Carolina system. PARSEC: A UNC Center at PARI

w w w. p a r i. e d u View of Main Campus from the Optical Telescope Ridge