Billy Teets

The brightest star in the image (just right of center) is Barnard’s Star, a red dwarf star discovered in 1916 by Edward Emerson Barnard. Image acquired with Dyer Observatory’s 14″ Bergquist Telescope and a ZWO ASI6200MC Pro camera. Credit: Billy Teets A mere six light-years… Read More

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) began its evening apparition during the second week of October 2024. During the period when the comet was at its brightest, observers were still able to spot it despite fighting the light of the waxing Moon. On October 20th, observatory director Billy Teets acquired this… Read More

Clouds parted long enough in Lanai Lookout, Oahu, Hawaii, to capture rapidly brightening comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) in the early morning hours of September 26, 2024. Credit: Chaim Scowcroft. For skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere, it often seems that spectacular comets only make their appearances in Southern… Read More

The Moon during the penumbral phase of the lunar eclipse on September 17, 2024. The image was created by combining nearly 600 frames of a 30-second video to reduce the blurring effects of Earth’s atmosphere. The darkest part of Earth’s penumbra appears at the top of the… Read More

The middle of September turns out to be a busy time for our Moon in 2024.  This month, skywatchers will have an opportunity to view a partial lunar eclipse and two lunar occultations.  Not only will clear skies be needed but location will also play a big role as to… Read More

The center of the Eagle Nebula (M16). The 78-minute composite hydrogen-alpha image was taken with Dyer Observatory’s 24″ Seyfert Telescope on September 5, 2024. Credit: Billy Teets Approximately 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens lies an immense cloud of gas and dust that has become a symbol of… Read More

A drone takes an eggonaut lander to a height of about 100 feet and releases it. If engineered well, the campers’ landers will protect the fragile egg astronaut from cracking.  Alex Rockafellar Dyer Observatory completed another round of summer camps this past July.  The two week-long day camps, one… Read More

If you have a clear western view, go out just as the Sun sets and take note of where it is on the horizon. About 30 minutes afterward, carefully scan to the left of where the Sun disappeared (a pair of binoculars would be helpful). You should pick up a… Read More

Saturday, Aug. 24, Dinner & Music Under the Stars to support Tennessee Local Food. 5 until 9 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a gourmet dinner prepared by Nashville’s best chefs using ingredients sourced from Middle Tennessee farmers, catered by chef Charlotte Miller of Mama Blanche… Read More