Press release

from PARI

December 26, 2012) – The public is invited to a special presentation Friday, January 11 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) concerning the wintertime night sky and celestial objects visible in Western North Carolina. The evening’s activities will include a tour of the PARI campus and celestial observations using PARI’s optical or radio telescopes.

The program is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature presentations by PARI astronomers. “We plan to provide a practical guide to the wintertime night sky and solar system objects visible in Western North Carolina,” said PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “This program is designed for all ages and all knowledge levels--- from astronomy newcomers up to those who have been observing all their lives. Weather permitting, we’ll also have an observing session so everyone can begin exploring the wonders of the universe right away.”

The Evening at PARI program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the night sky presentation, followed by a campus tour, a trip to the Exhibit Gallery and an observing session. The program will take place regardless of the weather so attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for being outside and to wear comfortable walking shoes. 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. Register and pay online at http://www.pari.edu or call (828) 862-5554. For additional information contact PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth at cwhitworth@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 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 Astronomical Photographic Data Archive housed on the PARI campus is the North American repository for historic astronomical images. A member of the NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative, PARI’s Exhibit Gallery displays a collection of rare meteorites and has been designated by NASA to receive Space Shuttle artifacts, many of which have flown in space. PARI is 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 http://www.pari.edu. Follow PARI on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Astronomy_PARI. “Like” PARI on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Pisgah.Astronomical.Research.Institute.