Spend a night or two with friends and family for space science discovery
PARI's weekend getaways come in two varieties.
Stargazing and Astronomy nights are planned around astronomical events. You'll see these on our calendar for bold meteor showers, ephemeral eclipses, and planetary parades.
Others feature exploration and education! Space Science and Space Exploration are frequently featured here.
We may explore a topic of local interest like the history of the Rosman Tracking Station, the ecology and environment of the Pisgah National Forest, or art and culture of our region or the night sky. Sometimes we will feature guest speakers or collaborate with partners to build these events.
Jump to our Calendar for all of our upcoming events!
These one or two night events center around what is going on in the sky. They will include several lodging and dining packages to choose from. Whether you sign up as an individual or a group we'll have an option that fits.
They will include a talk, presentation, or activity, followed by either astronomer led stargazing if weather allows, or alternate programming like a planetarium show or hands-on science if sky conditions don't allow viewing.
Here are some of the events you can expect to see featured:
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We'll feature only meteor showers that are known for bright meteors that appear with a high frequency. A night will be chosen that is on or near a weekend that is close to the predicted peak of meteor activity and is during a Moon phase that will interfere the least.
When a Solar Eclipse darkens the Sun or a Lunar Eclipse takes a bite out of the Moon, we'll have a place for you at PARI. If an eclipse will be visible from our perch in the mountains, check our calendar for an event.
When you hear on the news that there is a "planetary alignment" coming up, they probably mean either a planetary parade or a syzygy.
A planetary parade is when many planets, usually three or more, are all visible at the same time. They are not actually lined up in any real way but appear in an arc across the sky. This arc is called the ecliptic and planets are always somewhere along it. Usually some of them are on the daytime side of Earth and cannot be seen because of the light from the Sun. Even when they are out while the sky is dark, they rise in the east and set in the west just like the Sun and the Moon so aren't always up at the same time as one another.
When many of them are up and visible at night at the same time, that is called a planetary parade.
A syzygy is when celestial objects, (usually planets or the Moon) appear in almost the same spot in the sky. If you look up at the night sky and two or more planets (or the Moon) are close enough to one another that you can hold up your hand at arm's length and block them all from view, they are probably close enough together to be considered a syzygy.
There are some special types of syzygies. An eclipse is a type of syzygy where one object causes another to disappear from view. A transit is when a smaller body passes directly in front of a larger one, and an occultation is when an apparently larger body passes in front of an apparently smaller one.
These once-in-a-lifetime visitors from the outer solar system are a special treat. If one heads our way that can be seen from PARI either with the unaided eye or through a telescope, we'll celebrating it.
These one or two night events will feature a topic you can learn about and explore. PARI will host scientists, researchers, and educators to guide you through investigation and exploration. They will include several lodging and dining packages to choose from. Whether you sign up as an individual or a group we'll have an option that fits.
Here are some of the events you can expect to see featured:
Click or Tap a topic to expand it
Take deep dives into topics in astronomy and learn from experts in the field.
Take on challenges and solve problems. Your ideas may even advance you to regional and national levels.
Learn how we got here and the fascinating things that have happened right here in the mountains of North Carolina.
Featuring lessons and activities to support badges and achievements.
These events will feature a deep dive into a facet of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math. You'll learn something new and try it out yourself with hands-on activities and challenges.
Topics may include:
Weekend Camps and overnight events that are open to the general public will always appear on our calendar where you'll find a link to buy tickets. Usually they are posted one to two months in advance.
If your group or organization would like PARI to host a weekend camp just for you, a private camp can be booked. We'll work with you to put together a program that sparks your imagination and meets your needs. Pricing for private camps is usually based on a minimum of 20 attendees by may vary depending on the duration and content chosen.
Take a look at custom camps to help you pick a program.
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