Welcome to the Van Allen Observatory website. The University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy maintains these pages as a guide to the Van Allen Observatory (VAO) located on the roof of Van Allen Hall in downtown Iowa City.

View of Phillips, Van Allen, Biology Buildings via Drone Sept 2021

Events

Spectroscopy: Decoding Light from the Cosmos - presented by Philip Griffin; Graduate Student; Department of Physics and Astronomy promotional image

Spectroscopy: Decoding Light from the Cosmos - presented by Philip Griffin; Graduate Student; Department of Physics and Astronomy

Friday, June 5, 2026 8:30pm to 9:00pm
Van Allen Hall

Please join us for the Astronomy Public Talk series, where we host short, accessible talks on a wide range of astronomy and physics-related topics — free and open to the public! This event will feature a presentation by UI Physics and Astronomy graduate student Philip Griffin, who will share a brief overview of spectroscopy: a technique astronomers use to study how light interacts with matter to uncover the composition and properties of stars, planets, and galaxies. A public observing session at...

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory promotional image

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory

Friday, June 5, 2026 9:00pm to 11:00pm
Van Allen Hall

Please join the University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy department as we use the Van Allen Observatory and small telescopes to tour the summer sky. To attend this Astronomy observation session, follow the signs in Van Allen Hall to the east elevator to reach the roof.

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory promotional image

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory

Friday, June 19, 2026 9:00pm to 11:00pm
Van Allen Hall

Please join the University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy department as we use the Van Allen Observatory and small telescopes to tour the summer sky. To attend this Astronomy observation session, follow the signs in Van Allen Hall to the east elevator to reach the roof.