Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory is open to the public at least once a month starting in March for either a free Open House Telescope Night or an Exploration Night. Reservations are required for Exploration Nights and there is a $5/person, $10/family fee.
Open House Telescope Nights feature access to the Dyer Telescope when the weather is clear and an astronomer is on-hand to answer questions. If the weather is cloudy, the observatory will still be open for tours and an “ask an astronomer” session.
Exploration Nights typically start with a lecture by a Vanderbilt or other area university astronomer, followed by a question and answer period. Weather permitting, a telescope viewing follows. Regular Exploration Nights are intended for high school age or older individuals. Kids Exploration Nights are intended for school-age children and often have a theme and activities associated with them.
Here is a list of all the dates for Open House Telescope Nights and Exploration Nights:
March 14, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
March 19, 7 – 9 p.m., Kid’s Exploration Night
April 11, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
April 23, 7 – 9 p.m., Dyer Exploration Night
May 9, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
May 23, 7 – 9 p.m., Kid’s Exploration Night
June 13, 8 – 10 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
July 11, 8 – 10 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
July 17, 7 – 9 p.m., Kid’s Exploration Night
Aug. 8, 8 – 10 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
Aug. 14, 7 – 9 p.m., Dyer Exploration Night
Sept. 12, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
Sept. 19, 7 – 9 p.m., Kid’s Exploration Night
Oct. 10, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
Oct. 16, 7 – 9 p.m., Dyer Exploration Night
Nov. 7, 7 – 9 p.m., Kid’s Exploration Night
Nov. 14, 7 – 9 p.m., Open House Telescope Night
Reservations for Exploration Nights can be made by e-mailing nancy.dwyer@vanderbilt.edu. No reservations are required for the Open House Telescope Nights.
The observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake.
Media Contact: Missy Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu