RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PISGAH ASTRONOMICAL

RESEARCH INSTITUTE

J. D. Cline, M. W. Castelaz, C. S. Osborne (PARI)D. A. Moffett (Furman University)

AAS 199th Meeting, 9 January 2002, Session 103.01A not-for-profit public

foundation

INTRODUCTION:THE PARI MISSION & CAMPUS

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) isa 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 is located on 200 acres in the Pisgah Forest west of Asheville, NC

The site is relatively free of light and radio interference.

Built and used by NASA 1962 - 1981 Communications Facility 1981 - 1995 Forest Service 1995 - 1999 January 1999 PARI Formed and

Acquired the Facility

26-m West

26-m East

Optical Ridge

12-m

N

For use by Visiting and Resident scientists: 20 Buildings, 120,000 sq.ft.,

temperature controlled, 30,000 sq.ft. raised floor, space for conference rooms, labs, and offices

Overnight facilities and cafeteria Multimedia Center for conferences

with up to 60 participants

Primary Astronomical Instrumentation for visiting & resident astronomers includes: Two 26-m radio telescopes 12.2-m radio telescope 4.6-m radio telescope Jupiter/Io 17-30 MHz antenna Optical telescopes

26m-E26m-W

SUPPORT COSTS

PARI is a not-for-profit public foundation and is supported by donations, grants, and by scientists who conduct their research/education/public outreach projects at PARI. As such, we ask that visiting scientists secure funding to support their research at PARI to help offset costs. Realizing that grant funding is highly competitive, and with the desire by PARI to serve as many in the astronomical community as possible, PARI’s Site Administration works closely with visiting scientists to help minimize cost associated with office/building/lab space/classroom space/staff support.Based on a study of operation costs, PARI requests $250/night for telescope and associated instrument & computer use. This rate is negotiable based on duration of observations and instrument requirements. Also encouraged are consortia – PARI can facilitate the development of a consortium.

Requesting Observing Time

RADIO

Available receivers for both 26 m radio telescopes are 1.42, 4.8, 6.7, and 12.2 GHz. 26-West also has a 320 MHz receiver.

4.6-m radio telescope feeds include 1.42, 4.8, 6.7, and 12.2 GHz

The 12.2-m antenna is available for consortium sponsorship and use at frequencies up to 60 GHz

26-East

4.6-m

12.2-m prime focus feed

Spectrometer Control Software – allows simultaneous spectrum and continuum measurement

Control System Operate 26-meter

telescopes separately or together

Mapping capability Typical telescope

pointing and tracking

OPTICAL: • Questar and CCD and standard filters

will be available Summer 2002. • 18 cm, f/14.3, 81.2 arcsec/mm• 2k x 2k, 13 um/pix CCD (= 36

arcmin x 36 arcmin FOV)• Standard UBVRI Filter Set

• OVIEW: Internet accessible optical telescopes for Education/Public Outreach, online Summer 2002. Telescopes & cameras include:• Solar/Lunar 12.7 cm telescope with

SBIG STV• Atmospheric Seeing/Transparency

24-hour monitoring 12.7 cm telescope and SBIG STV

• All-sky fisheye 24 hour telescope• Polaris continuous photometry

telescope

REQUESTS FOR ONE-TIME, LONG-TERM OR PERIODIC OBSERVATION PROGRAMS ARE WELCOME.

VISITING ASTRONOMER RECEIVERS/EQUIPMENT/CAMERAS ARE ALSO WELCOME.

MAKE OBSERVING REQUESTS ONLINE OR E-MAIL: Go to PARI website and click on Observing

Cline Weather Station: Internet accessible optical ridge weather measurements include:

Temperature Wind speed and direction Humidity Rain Barometric Pressure CdS photocell for cloud cover measure

PROJECT PROPOSALS

Possible Projects at PARI:• Sabbaticals• Instrument Research &

Development• Postdoctoral Research• Graduate Student Research• Undergraduate Research • High School Student Projects• K-12 Teacher Continuing

Education• Consortia/Observing

Campaigns

Note: Projects are not limited to those listed here. PARI can meet a variety of research and education needs. Contact PARI staff for more information.

Sabbaticals

Visiting scientists may stay for a semester on the PARI campus, may schedule periodic visits, or stay off-campus.Research can cover a broad range of topics from theoretical to observational and instrumentation. Lab and office are available, along with machine shop. Visitors are welcome to bring their own equipment, computers, and/or workstations or use the facility computers.Acknowledgement of PARI is requested in any publications related to research done at PARI.

Research and Development of Instruments

Use any of the PARI radio telescopes as a testbed for experimental radiometers.

Optical building with 5000 sq ft on southwestern edge of campus has ~3 ft thick reinforced concrete floor suitable for laser and optics lab work.

12.2-m radio telescope in radome is suitable for <60 GHz work (0.4 mm rms surface).

Optical ridge seeing measured as 1.5 +/- 0.2 arcseconds. Several (<1 m) telescopes are located on the ridge. There is room for more. PARI plans include a 1.1 m f/4.4 prime focus imaging telescope.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Postdoctoral scientists may include:PARI supported – PARI is seeking funding to support postdocs for

A pulsar timing projectThe development of the 1.1 m optical telescope

Those who can use the telescopes, instruments, or lab facilities at PARI and sponsored by

UniversitiesConsortiaPrivate research groups

Postdoctoral scientists may bring their own equipment. Lab and office space is available.

Graduate Student Research

Graduate students are invited to use facilities at PARI

Thesis workMonitoring and/or survey programsInstrument Development

Test thesis ideas

Pulsars, Gamma Ray Bursts, Target of Opportunities,

Learn radio observation skills:Receiver development and useDigital Signal Processing for data acquisition and analysis

Undergraduate Research

Some PARI and externally funded Summer and Academic Year undergraduate research opportunities

Undergraduates may participate in research being done by a professor on sabbatical

Visiting classes: semester or course projects, labs designed by the professor and accomplished at PARI

Be Part of Curriculum: e.g South Carolina State University Partnership Awards for the Integration of Research into Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology (PAIR) program. Students developing 4.6-m radio telescope controls and receiver temperature control.

High School Student Projects

Senior Projects currently serve regional needs. But, remote operation of the 4.6-m radio telescope in Fall 2002 will allow broader use.Most recent: Student from Freedom High School, Morganton, NC measured part of the 21-cm Galactic rotation curve.Some Senior Project ideas:

21-cm Galactic rotation curveRadiometer sensitivity measurementsMapping velocity structure of extended bright radio sources

Group High School Student Projects/Classes Examples:School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (see Abstract 23.15 this meeting)North Carolina School of Science & Math Spring 2002 10 day mini-term

K-12 Teacher Continuing Education

Beginning in Fall 2002: Teacher workshops related to the PARI School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (see Abstract 23.15 this meeting).

Goals of the SGRA workshops:Learn how to use the 4.6-m radio telescope on site and remotely;Learn the basics of radio astronomy;Develop proficiency in using the curriculum modules;Develop one original use of the SGRA facilities.

Development of Consortia/Observing

Campaigns

We are open to new consortia to develop a project at PARI, or an established consortium to enhance their research/education opportunities by developing a project at PARI.

Consortia may include a Theoretical Astrophysics Research Group, Observational Astronomers, or Instrumentation Engineers, for example.

Observing Campaigns: The telescopes at PARI may be used by astronomers as part of world-wide observing campaigns.

Development and support of existing or new telescopes at PARI.

PROJECT PROPOSAL APPLICATION

e-mail (Postscript or PDF formats are requested)

1. cover sheet (download from the PARI web page, pari.edu),

2. 3 page project description. 3. 2 page CV for the PI and each Co-I.

……..OR……..Online: Go to PARI website and click on

Project Proposal

Applications are accepted anytime.

Upon receipt and review, the PI will be contacted to discuss logistics and schedule. Typical turn-around time is two weeks, but rapid turn-around can be accommodated if requested.PARI is a not-for-profit public foundation. As such, we ask that visiting scientists secure funding to support their research. PARI’s Site Administration works closely with visiting scientists to help minimize cost associated with staff and equipment support.

LOGISTICS TO USING THE FACILITIES ON THE PARI CAMPUS

CONTACTS• Administrative (e.g. room & board, staff

assistance, costs): James Powers (jpowers@pari.edu)

• Research/Education/Application Submission and Questions: Michael Castelaz (mcastelaz@pari.edu)

• Technical Question regarding telescopes/instruments/computers/status:Charles Osborne (cosborne@pari.edu)

• Long-term planning: Don Cline (dcline@pari.edu)

ACCOMMODATIONS:Overnight accommodations are $60/night for room and fully equipped and stocked kitchen for 3 meals.

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute 1 PARI DriveRosman, NC 28772 Internet: www.pari.edu

Office: 828-862-5554FAX: 828-862-5877Internet: www.pari.edu