Dyer Observatory

By Jenna Somers In September, a delegation from Pakistan visited Vanderbilt University for the weeklong STEM-Powered Immersion Conference, hosted by Peabody College of education and human development. Six faculty members from Sukkur IBA University and Qasim Aslam, founder and chief executive officer of Beyond the Classroom, participated in a… Read More

Nashville is a city bustling with activity during the sweltering summer months. From cultural celebrations to arts exhibitions to live dance and music offerings, there is something in store for everyone. Vanderbilt University is proud to support numerous nonprofit and community organizations that provide activities and events throughout the season. Read More

From garden tours to musical bingo, spring in Nashville is full of opportunities to come together. Vanderbilt University is proud to partner with local nonprofits and cultural organizations to offer events that welcome students, faculty, staff—and the broader Nashville community. Read More

This winter, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is offering an exciting lineup of courses to invite the 50+ community to rediscover the joy of learning. For added convenience during the unpredictable weather of winter, many classes are available through Zoom, allowing students to join from the comfort of home. Registration for winter classes is open Nov. 18–Jan. 3. Classes begin on Jan. 12. Read More

Much of Middle Tennessee will see about 95% of the sun covered on April 8, providing us with a grand partial solar eclipse. The Sun will begin to disappear at 12:45 p.m., reach maximum eclipse by 2:02 p.m., and completely reappear at 3:20 p.m. For those who crave the experience of a total solar eclipse, all is not lost. The path of totality extends across much of the eastern United States, making it accessible by just a few hours' drive from Nashville. Read More

Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory welcomes astronomy enthusiasts to its 2024 season, marked this year by the unveiling of a new logo. Read More

Looking for an enriching experience for your children this summer? Vanderbilt offers a diverse selection of camps providing skill development, learning and fun. Whether your child is passionate about sports, academic exploration or the arts, Vanderbilt has a summer camp experience just for them.  Read More

by Cynthia Floyd Manley Vanderbilt University Medical Center has determined that eclipse-viewing glasses purchased from a local vendor and previously distributed to the public may not meet the highest safety standards and should not be used to view the eclipse. The glasses in question have solid white paper frames and… Read More

Don’t forget to look around the sky during the historic total solar eclipse. Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory astronomer Billy Teets says several planets will be brightly visible as the solar eclipse occurs. Venus will be the brightest thing in the sky, besides the sun and the moon. Tests tells where to… Read More

During this talk, Dr. Keivan Stassun summarizes the promise of the TESS mission for detecting other worlds like our own and identifying other places in the universe where life just might be possible. This talk took place at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory on March 3rd, 2017. Read More

In the latest VUCast: What people with autism see may not match what they hear; how “supersizing” could help you lose weight; and hear what earned a Vanderbilt astronomer a Grammy nomination. Watch now. Read More

Vandy’s supporting role in hit show Nashville Who is that with actor Alan Alda? And the sound of music for the Mighty Sky   All this and more in VUCast, Vanderbilt’s online newscast. Watch now.   [vucastblurb]… Read More

Get ready to see stars– We’re taking you to space camp. See why mosquitoes bite you more than others Why you should get “Pinterested” in Vanderbilt! All this and more in this week’s VUCast, Vanderbilt’s online newscast. Watch now. [vucastblurb]… Read More

When choosing our contest winners, our judges accidentally attributed each winning answer to the author of the answer before it. Read More

Watch “The Mighty Sky,” a special event at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory featuring a presentation by Leland Melvin, NASA associate administrator for education and two-time Space Shuttle astronaut, with music from an upcoming album of the same name performed by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman and Nashville-based musicians The Long Players. Read More

The Dyer Observatory is calling all science sleuths to help identify an unknown object spotted on June 5. Read More

Tom Kimmel and Pierce and Grace Pettis will headline the June 16 Bluebird on the Mountain concert at scenic Dyer Observatory. Read More

At 5:04 p.m. June 5, the planet Venus passed directly in front of the sun. The transit of Venus is extremely rare, occurring twice in eight-year periods more than 100 years apart. The most recent transit of Venus was in 2004, and it will not happen again until the year… Read More

Rocky Alvey (John Russell/Vanderbilt) Around the time Rocky Alvey turned 52, he decided he was going to write one song per week for a year. So he did. Mostly in his truck. Commuting usually isn’t the most rewarding part of anyone’s day, but Alvey’s journey between home and… Read More

L-r: Carl Seyfert, Board of Trust Chairman W.L. Hemingway, Arthur J. Dyer and Chancellor Harvie Branscomb on the observatory grounds circa 1952. Image courtesy of Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives Vanderbilt alumnus Arthur J. Dyer came from humble beginnings but rose to prominence as one of Nashville’s… Read More