Home Van Allen Observatory Van Allen Observatory 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. Events Operator Theory Seminar - Professor Ionut Chifan; Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa Tuesday, September 1, 2026 1:30pm to 2:20pm Van Allen Hall Operator Theory Seminar Mathematical Physics Seminar - Professor Wayne Polyzou; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa Wednesday, September 2, 2026 2:30pm to 3:20pm Van Allen Hall Mathematical Physics Seminar Condensed Matter Colloquium - Professor Joshua Caldwell; College of Engineering, Vanderbilt University Thursday, September 3, 2026 10:00am to 11:00am Van Allen Hall Condensed Matter Colloquium