Alexandra Rockafellar

On January 28, 2025, the Dyer Observatory staff dropped everything and ran outside when they heard the unmistakable calls of Sandhill Cranes overhead. Their loud, trumpet-like cries echoed across the sky—a sure sign that the annual winter migration was in full swing. Read More

We are thrilled to announce a new collaboration between Dyer Observatory and Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth (PTY). In lieu of our traditional camps, this summer Dyer will join PTY’s renowned Summer Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young to pilot an astronomy and space science camp designed… Read More

Here are a few tips Dr. Billy Teets shares with anyone interested in getting a telescope: We often refer folks to Dobsonian telescopes as they give you the most light-gathering bang for your buck.  These telescopes are more suited for visual observing rather than photography, but one can still… Read More

Professor Carl K. Seyfert joined Vanderbilt’s physics and astronomy department in 1946 with enthusiasm to build a new observatory that would house a donated telescope mirror and bring the program into the space age. Because the university could not fund a new building, Seyfert was put in contact with the… Read More

Dyer Observatory is especially gorgeous in autumn as it sits among the changing treetops. We enjoyed a wide variety of events, but here are a few favorites. On October 2, 2024, Percy Priest Elementary held a songwriters night as a fundraiser. Appearing were Jonathan Singleton, Sasha… Read More

Dyer Observatory’s all-sky camera caught a gorgeous aurora as it burst over our area on October 10, 2024. Click on the image to see a timelapse of the aurora. Images were taken approximately every 20 seconds.  The pink prologue started soon after sunset, the… Read More

The first successful Astronomy on Tap event took place in Brooklyn in 2013. The concept quickly spread due to the international nature of the astronomy community and the general public’s growing interest in space exploration and discovery. AoT has expanded to cities across America and to international outposts in… Read More

Look for Lunar X along the Moon’s terminator (light/dark boundary) during the few hours it is visible in your area. Image credits: Stellarium and Billy Teets (inset). “Lunar X” is a visual phenomenon where an X appears on the Moon’s surface. What one actually sees is the contrast between the… Read More

Meet the Astronomer Evening: Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 PM Our signature event! Browse our exhibits, enjoy an astro talk with Q&A, and view the sky through the historic Seyfert Telescope. Get tickets to attend in person or join us live on YouTube. Read More