V I E W Winter 2017 Volume 17 - PARI

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Volume 17 Number 1 Winter 2017

A new era of education outreach is underway at PARI

In this issue . . .

Cooby Creek 50th . . . . . . . 2 Dr. Chris Mullis . . . . . . . . . 2 Pulsar Journey Art . . . . . . 3 NCREN and PARI . . . . . . . . 3 Rosman MS Visit . . . . . . . . 4 New PARI Staff Members 5 West Optical Telescope . . 5 Totality at PARI . . . . . . . . . 6 PARI in Pictures . . . . . . . . . 7 Research Update . . . . . . . . 8 Astronomer's Corner . . . . 12

PARI's StarLab portable planetarium is being retired after more than a decade of service. In terms of sheer numbers, the PARI StarLab became one of the most popular astronomy programs in the Carolinas, with more than 75,000 people viewing its programs.

AdventureDome arrives

The learning experience is being upgraded to a program entitled "AdventureDome," which will be made possible by a Digitalis Digitarium Zeta Pro projector shown here being unpacked by members of the PARI education Department (left to right, Bob Hayward, Christi Whitworth and Skip Bird).

The digital projector will provide all the former StarLab planetarium programs but also open the door for development of earth science and other types presentations far beyond those normally associated with planetariums. PARI is currently in talks with Digitalis to build content for a radio astronomy program.

PARI Calendar

Jan 31 Feb 10 Feb 28 Mar 10 Apr 14

SciGirls - Insulation Station Evening at PARI SciGirls - Blowin' in the Wind Evening at PARI Evening at PARI

For a complete look at upcoming events and activities, see the PARI Event Calendar.

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, a public not-for-profit 501(c)(3) foundation

Halfway around the world, PARI celebrates NASA history

PARI representatives recently helped mark a historic moment in in the U.S. space program, the 50th anniversary of the Cooby Creek Tracking Station in Queensland, Australia.

During the early days of the U.S. space program the Rosman Tracking Station at the current PARI site joined similar stations in Cooby Creek and Mojave, California, to form the NASA ground support team for the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) series. ATS pioneered many of the technologies we use today,

including weather satellites, GPS systems and satellite TV broadcasts.

As those who worked at Cooby Creek prepared for their 50th anniversary celebration they reached out to their U.S. counterparts. Friends of PARI volunteers John Boehme, Joe Collins and Dr. Joe Phillips became part of the festivities. John Boehme set up a satellite and amateur radio link that allowed Joe Phillips to participate live during the ceremonies. Joe Collins, who worked on the ATS series during the Rosman days, also participated using a

Skype connection.

Cooby Creek Station, Australia, as it appeared in the 1960s.

The Cooby Creek station was online in time for the 1966 launch of ATS-1 and relayed satellite television to Australians for the first time. The ATS-1 also obtained the first image from space of the entire Australian continent. Its mission completed, Cooby Creek closed in 1970. Its sister station in Rosman lives on today as PARI.

Dr. Chris Mullis joins PARI board

The newest member of PARI's board of directors is Dr. Chris Mullis. For nearly 20 years as an astrophysicist Dr. Mullis charted the far reaches of the Universe, before pivoting to help families navigate more down-to-Earth challenges through his financial planning firm, NorthStar Capital Advisors.

Dr. Mullis is a graduate of Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC and currently serves as a vice chair of its Board of Trustees. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia and received his Ph. D. in Astronomy from the University of Hawai'i. Dr. Mullis resides in his native Charlotte with his wife and two children, and currently serves as CEO of NorthStar Capital Advisors and CFO of Mullis Oil Company

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Dr. Chris Mullis

Pulsar Journey art exhibit extended

Originally scheduled to end in December, the synthesis of art and science entitled "Pulsar Journey" has been granted an extended run until Feb. 4. The exhibit features 11 works by French artist Am?lie Beaudroit depicting the stellar stages of a pulsar. Her work at PARI includes LED lighting to help depict the way a pulsar signal repeats in space.

Artist Am?lie Beaudroit discusses her work with PARI APDA Director Thurburn Barker during a reception to open the exhibit.

Visitors use a downloaded app to enhance the viewing experience.

PARI shares broadband experience with statewide group

CIO Lamar Owen, far left in the accompanying photo, demonstrated how broadband connectivity enhances hands-on learning opportunities at PARI during the NCREN Community Days at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

NCREN (North Carolina Research and Education Network) is the network operated by MCNC, a technology

nonprofit that builds and operates broadband infrastructure connecting research, education and healthcare institutions across the state. The annual Community Days event is a forum for leading IT professionals to share their experiences and learn from one another.

During his talk, Lamar demonstrated how PARI's 12-meter radio telescope is used remotely by students across the state and around the world. Colleen Lemmers, the 2016 Janet Parks Intern ran a real-time online demonstration while Lamar discussed what the audience was seeing and how students use the instrument to gather data from stars and other celestial bodies.

NCREN- Lamar Owen panel

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A day of science adventure for Rosman Middle School

About 150 8th grade students from Rosman Middle School were treated to a day of learning and exploration on the PARI campus, thanks to a grant from Biogen, a global leader in biotechnology headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The students learned about careers in science while participating in hands-on workshops organized and conducted by PARI staff members. Topics included comets, spectra, GPS satellites-- and having fun with science!

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Students from Rosman Middle School with telescope at PARI

PARI welcomes new staff members

Laura Owen and Lebby Moran

PARI's recent expansion of public outreach has resulted in the addition of two staff members in visitor and program support roles. Laura Owen, left, now assists with food service and housekeeping, while Lebby Moran, seated, assists Sarah Chappell with visitor services.

Originally from South Carolina, Laura has spent most of her life Balsam Grove and currently resides in the community with her husband and two children. She graduated from Rosman High School and holds a NC Servsafe Managers certificate. Lebby graduated from George Mason University with an Astronomy degree and moved to the Brevard area last August.

A new lease on life for popular instrument

PARI's West Optical Telescope is once again producing researchgrade images of the night sky, thanks to a West Coast excursion for the instrument's primary 16-inch mirror.

Hundreds of students and

researchers have used the tele-

scope for the past 12 years, but

those years of use took their toll.

A decade of pollen and dust was

glued to the mirror by North Car-

olina humidity. Careful cleaning by PARI staff restored the reflec-

PARI's West Optical Telescope

tive surface to high luster but did

nothing to bring the aluminized coating back to its originally reflectivity. That problem was solved by

shipping the mirror to a specialist in California. Five weeks later, the mirror was safely home, looking

brand new.

The mirror is now back in the telescope, producing images and ready for another decade of nighttime adventure.

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