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

AI and Literature Discovery

Thursday, October 15, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Seamans Center
Build your scholarly toolkit with workshop on AI-powered literature discovery.
Solar Wind Characteristics During Low Density Periods: A Window into Young Solar Wind promotional image

Solar Wind Characteristics During Low Density Periods: A Window into Young Solar Wind

Friday, October 16, 2026 7:30pm to 8:00pm
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 undergraduate student Sydney Tune, who will discuss how low-density periods in the solar wind can show what previous conditions were like near the Sun. By studying features known as counter-streaming strahl electrons and “double ions” during these rare...

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory promotional image

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatory

Friday, October 16, 2026 8:00pm to 10:00pm
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 fall sky. To attend this Astronomy observation session, follow the signs in Van Allen Hall to the east elevator to reach the roof.