Astronomy Outreach
Telescope Observing from “The Roof”
NOTE: We will not host observing on Friday, September 20, due to a concert event at Neyland Stadium.
We observe from the roof of the Alvin Nielsen Physics and Astronomy Building on the first and third Fridays of every month, weather permitting, starting at 9:00 pm. We are located on the “The Hill” off Cumberland Avenue between 13th Street and Phillip Fulmer Way. Parking is available in the Vol Hall Parking Garage on White Avenue. Some Handicapped Parking is available in front of Nielsen.
Explore the Night Sky on Your Own
Here’s a great site that will help you decide when will be a good time to observe the night sky whether you choose to come to UT or find a really dark sky location.
Other Ways to Connect
Astronomy Programming
- Exploring the Solar System
- Solar Sundays
- Star Parties, on and off campus
- Planetarium Show
Contact Paul Lewis, via email or by phone at 865-974-9601, for more information.
Sharing the Skies with History
Our graduate students have coordinated astronomy viewings at the Marble Springs State Historic Site in Knoxville, including the 2023 Leonid Meteor Shower. Check the department’s (and those of Marble Springs) social accounts and website for announcements of upcoming events!
Resources for Astronomy Fans
- Cool Things in the Sky this Month
- Educator Materials Search Tool (via NASA)
- Lunar and Planetary Institute Resources
- Some really cool Astronomy Simulations and Animations (via UNL)
- Observing the sky? You’ll need a weather guide. (Astrospheric)
- A free and informative Monthly Sky Map
- European Southern Observatory
- The European Space Agency
- NASA (You can find the regional field centers from here: JPL, MSFC, GSFC, etc.)
All Things Telescope
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Everything you wanted from the Hubble Space Telescope but didn’t know where to look.
- James Webb Space Telescope
- GAIA
- Chandra X-Ray Observatory
- Solar Dynamics Observatory
- Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
- Psyche
- Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope