-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ohmqe49lSGhGAYX3oE7UtImG9dRjsuqoHTcvj4NJTceKJPopvrlqvjMGuhu+7m4G
 YzS57i+oCzEaEn+2XoPHvA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-012737.txt : 20050621
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-012737.hdr.sgml : 20050620
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050621093534
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-012737
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050621
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050621

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				112989601
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DR
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163498300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACUUM ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KIERNAN JOHN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001251708

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16244
		FILM NUMBER:		05907085

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		100 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5166770200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103145</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VECO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KIERNAN JOHN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 SUNNYSIDE BOULEVARD SUITE B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11797</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Finance &amp; Corp. Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">100% of this option grant is exercisable on 12/17/05, the six-month anniversary of the date of grant.  Shares underlying the option are restricted from transfer, with the restriction lapsing on the second anniversary of the date of the option grant (6/17/07).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory A. Robbins, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----