“T-Rex and the Doomsday Impact” takes place Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI).
The presentation will explore the catastrophic meteorite impact 65 million years ago that is thought to have caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The evening will include a tour of the PARI campus and, weather permitting, an observing session using PARI telescopes.
The program is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a presentation by John Sinclair, PARI Curator of Meteorites. “About 65 million years ago,” said Sinclair, “a meteorite estimated to be six miles in diameter crashed into the Yucatan Peninsula, creating the Chicxulub crater that measures 110 miles in diameter and 12 miles deep.
“The impact created climate change, huge fires, massive tidal waves and the mass extinction of many species of life on Earth, including dinosaurs. The event also created the K-Pg (K-T) boundary layer of the Earth’s surface that is rich in the rare platinum group metal iridium.
“My presentation will include artist’s depictions of the event and the resulting changes in the Earth. I will also show samples of K-Pg boundary material that was collected in Colorado and New Mexico. Select samples will be available for purchase during the evening.”
The Evening at PARI program will begin at 7 p.m. with a campus tour, including a trip to the Space Artifacts Gallery and the newly expanded Meteorite & Mineral Gallery. The presentation and observing session will follow. 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.
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute is located in the Pisgah National Forest, 30 miles southwest of Asheville. The 200-acre campus is the former site of an historic NASA satellite tracking station.
Today, PARI is a science education and research center. The site houses radio and optical telescopes, earth science instruments and the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive. Exhibit galleries display NASA Space Shuttle artifacts and collections of rare meteorites and minerals.
For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.
If You Go: T-Rex and the Doomsday Impact, Friday, November 13, 2015. Reservations are required and will be accepted until 3 p.m. the day of the event. Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult and $15 for seniors/military. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Register and pay online at pari.edu or call (828) 862-5554.