PARI hosts annual Space Day open house

From a press release:

PARI hosts annual Space Day open house

Rosman, NC (April 14, 2015) – The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is hosting its annual Space Day open house Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The 200-acre campus will be open to the public with activities and events that are suitable for all ages.

This year, visitors will be treated to the grand opening of a new section of the Exhibit Gallery that houses an array of gems and minerals, most of them from North Carolina.  The Exhibit Gallery also displays a world-class collection of meteorites, including actual pieces of Mars and the Moon, plus retired NASA Space Shuttle artifacts, some of which have actually flown in space.

PARI’s popular StarLab planetarium will be in operation during most of the day, featuring presentations from PARI’s science education staff.  New sections of hiking trails have recently been opened and the Galaxy Walk allows visitors to enjoy a scale model view of the solar system while strolling the campus.  PARI’s Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA), a national archive of historic astronomical photographs featuring images recorded as far back as the 1800s, will also be open to Space Day visitors.  After touring APDA, visitors can learn how PARI’s SCOPE project provides Internet access to part of the APDA database and allows citizen scientists to assist with star classification.  Visitors will also have access to PARI’s Astronomy Image Gallery, which includes more than 100 posters, photographs and historical images.  Research and education programs will be highlighted at locations across the campus and PARI staff will be available to demonstrate and explain Earth and space science remote instrumentation and observations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Admission to Space Day is free.  There will be a nominal charge for attending planetarium presentations and for food available for purchase.

“For anyone in the area who has ever wondered what now goes on at this historic former NASA site, Space Day is the perfect opportunity to find out,” said Ken Steiner, PARI’s Executive Director.  “All of our staff, scientists and educators set aside their regular duties to host a large, family-oriented open house. Even if you have visited PARI before it’s a great time to revisit and see what’s new.  Over the years, Space Day at PARI has become one of our most popular events, and we certainly extend a warm welcome to anyone who wants come and experience a day of science and fun.”

For more information about PARI, Space Day and directions to the campus, please visit www.pari.edu.

About PARI
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a public not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation established in 1998.  Located in the Pisgah National Forest 30 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, the PARI campus 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.

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