Firework at Navy Pier

Firework at Navy Pier, Chicago for New Year Eve

      What are you doing on the last day of the year 2011. My friend (Nut) and I went to Navy Pier for the first time to watch a firework. It was really cold outside, so we spent most of the time inside Navy Pier until the firework started. The crowds was crazy. And we have to walk all the way to 6th bus stop to get back to our apartment. It might not be the best way to spend my last day of a year, but it was worth trying for the first time (maybe not for the next time though).

Vincent van Gogh

Self-Portrait, Vincent van Gogh, 1887

This is one of the masterpiece of Vincent van Gogh in the Art Institution of Chicago in Chicago, IL. There are more than you can imagine in this museum. If you have a chance to come to Chicago, don't forget to visit this museum which is right next to the Millennium Park.

The Could Gate in Millennium Park

     The Could Gate in Millennium Park is one of the most important figure in Chicago which is inspired by liquid mercury. Everyone who went to Chicago just had to came here and took some pictures with "the Bean."

Yerkes Observatory

Yerkes Observatory: University of Chicago's Observatory in Wisconsin

Here is the Yerkes Observatory owned by University of Chicago even though it is roughly two-hours drive from the university. Yerkes is a home of the world biggest refracting telescope. 

I just feel like I should visit more observatories, not just because I want to travel to many different places, but also because they always remind me of what my dream was like when I was a kid. About 15s in front of the observatory that night was amazing. The sky is clear, but I could not remember anymore what are these constellations. The actually telescopes are located in both side of this building with this in the middle.

40-inch Refractor Telescope

40-inch Refractor telescope at Yerkes Observatory

     I went to the Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin with Astronomy Club. The observatory is owned by University of Chicago since the school was very new before 1900. This 40-inch refracting telescope easily became the largest telescope at that time and still the biggest refracting telescope in the world now that still exist today.

     After more than 100 years of working hard as an important tool to discover the universe, it now has a new role as an educator to teach kids about astronomy. Good luck Yerkes.

The biggest refracting telescope in the world aiming at Saturn

John Hancock Observatory

John Hancock Observatory from Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

During Thanksgiving'11, I went to the Nature Museum and Lincoln Zoo for the zoo light. I had a chance to take this photos before it would be dark: the photo of John Hancock Center from the North side view of the city.

Gerald Ratner Athletics

Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, University of Chicago

I was going to the bus stop in order to catch a bus to go to Carl Segan Day in downtown. Before getting to the bus stop, I looked at this moment and had to stop and capture this photo. It was an amazing moment.