If this summer feels extra hot, you might think Earth is closest to the Sun. But it's actually the opposite!

In early July, Earth reaches aphelion (uh-FEE-lee-uhn or ap-HEE-lee-uhn), the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the Sun—about 94.5 million miles away. We're actually closest to the Sun every January.

So why is it so warm? 

It's because Earth is tilted about 23.5 degrees. During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, our part of Earth tilts toward the Sun. That gives us longer days and more direct sunlight, which warms the ground much more than Earth's changing distance from the Sun.

It's a great reminder that space doesn't always work the way we expect!

Field Trips Return to Dyer This Fall

School field trips are back! We're once again inviting students to experience science beyond the classroom.

Fall is just around the corner, reserve your class's spot today!

Bluebird on the Mountain Concert Series

Join Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory and the Bluebird Cafe for an unforgettable evening of music beneath the stars.

Tickets are available for the August 1 and 15 concerts.

Nature notes and seasonal discoveries from Nathan Griffin, Dyer's Facilities Manager and arborist in training.

Did you know trees never truly heal after they're injured? 

When a tree is damaged by an ice storm or another sudden injury, it activates an incredible defense system called compartmentalization. One of the most surprising facts about trees is that they never truly heal. Instead, they isolate the damaged tissue to protect the healthy wood around it. 

As soon as a limb breaks, the tree triggers a biochemical response that seals off some of its water-conducting pathways and produces protective chemicals to slow the spread of fungi and other pathogens. It then builds a remarkable four-layer defense system within the wood. These natural barriers limit the spread of decay in every direction while new wood grows around the wound. 

Over the next few growing seasons, callus tissue forms around the edges of the injury and gradually develops into woundwood, slowly closing over the damaged area. The injured wood is never repaired—instead, it is permanently sealed away while healthy new wood continues to grow around it. 

Thanks to this remarkable process, many trees survive for decades or even centuries, quietly carrying the hidden scars of storms deep within their trunks.