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.

Please note that due to summer 2024 Van Allen Hall roof renovations, the Van Allen Observatory will be closed for the vast majority of summer 2024. Please contact Caroline Roberts at 319-467-1481 for any questions about the current availability of the Van Allen Observatory.

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

Events

Kent Ornithology Collection: Learning All About Birds promotional image

Kent Ornithology Collection: Learning All About Birds

Thursday, April 25, 2024 1:00pm
Virtual
Discover delight from this collection of over 250 books about birds at the Sciences Library. Come in person to the Sciences Library or register for Zoom.
Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatories promotional image

Public Observing Night - Van Allen Observatories

Friday, April 26, 2024 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Van Allen Hall
Join us for another public observing night at Van Allen Hall!
Plasma Physics Seminar - Patrick Langer; University of Iowa promotional image

Plasma Physics Seminar - Patrick Langer; University of Iowa

Monday, April 29, 2024 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Van Allen Hall
Scattering Model of Cold Electrostatic Waves in a Dipole Magnetic Field