“Wow!” is not an uncommon word around here.

We hear it as people view the rings of Saturn, when they see crater ridges on the moon, when they experience the Star Chamber sculpture and watch towering cumulus clouds roll across the floor, it results from hearing astronomers tell about discovering an unknown feature of the universe, or you might even say it while ascending our beautiful winding drive through the oaks and shagbark hickory trees.

Most would agree that the hilltop located at 1000 Oman Drive is a special place. Crowning one of Nashville’s tallest peaks, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory is a Tennessee treasure. Surrounded by scenic Radnor Lake State Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Dyer’s telescopes have pointed toward the sky since 1953. Vanderbilt University has a long and respected tradition of astronomy. Our first Chancellor, Landon Garland, was a professor of Physics and Astronomy. Many of the University’s original 1875 astronomical instruments and artifacts are housed at Dyer. Also proudly displayed among the historical items is the engraved pocket watch of the famous astronomer E.E. Barnard, presented to him for the discovery of the fifth moon of Jupiter. Galileo discovered the first four.

In order to inspire student and public interest in science we have many activities such as summer camps, teacher workshops, Open House Telescope Nights, special lectures with world-class discoverers, and we bring physics experiments and solar telescopes into classrooms and to community events. Dyer is available for meetings, retreats, receptions and weddings. Rental income helps to support our mission so please consider Dyer when planning your next event.

All we do here at Dyer, whether it is viewing clouds on Jupiter, or answering a telephone question about astronomy, our goal is to expand awareness about this amazing home of ours called the universe, and to get you to say “Wow!”

Rocky Alvey
Director