Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
Smiley with 26 West in the background | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Observatory code | H70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Balsam Grove, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°11′59″N 82°52′21″W / 35.1996°N 82.8724°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Altitude | 2,999 feet (914 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Established | January 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | pari | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telescopes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Location of Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related media on Commons | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI; /ˈpæriː/ PAIR-ee) is a non-profit astronomical observatory located in the Pisgah National Forest near Balsam Grove, North Carolina. PARI operates multiple radio telescopes and optical telescopes for research and teaching purposes. The site is a Dark Sky Park, certified by DarkSky International in 2020. It is one of only two Dark Sky Parks in North Carolina. The observatory is affiliated with the University of North Carolina system through the Pisgah Astronomical Research and Science Educational Center (PARSEC). PARI is open to the public by appointment.