Photo albums

US tour
Pictures taken during my tour past half a dozen astronomy departments in the US in January and early February of 2010.
USA
188 photos
The main building of the University of Texas at Austin, better known as the Tower.
The main building of the University of Texas at Austin, better known as the Tower.
 A fountain on the UT campus.
A fountain on the UT campus.
The same fountain, now seen from the side.
The same fountain, now seen from the side.
 The tower, seen down University Avenue.
The tower, seen down University Avenue.
The Texas State Capitol.
The Texas State Capitol.
 The Austin Folk House Bed & Breakfast, where I stayed during my visit to UT.
The Austin Folk House Bed & Breakfast, where I stayed during my visit to UT.
The Tower.
The Tower.
 View from the building that houses UT's astronomy department. The dome of the State Capitol is visible just to the left of the center.
View from the building that houses UT's astronomy department. The dome of the State Capitol is visible just to the left of the center.
The Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, home to UT's football team, the Texas Longhorns. With a capacity of 100,119 seats, it is the fourth largest football stadium in the US.
The Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, home to UT's football team, the Texas Longhorns. With a capacity of 100,119 seats, it is the fourth largest football stadium in the US.
 The telescope doom on the roof of the astronomy department.
The telescope doom on the roof of the astronomy department.
Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium.
 Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium.
 Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium.
The Santa Rita no. 1 rig, used to drill the first major oil well in Texas. The rig now stands on the southern end of the UT campus.
The Santa Rita no. 1 rig, used to drill the first major oil well in Texas. The rig now stands on the southern end of the UT campus.
 The State Capitol.
The State Capitol.
The State Capitol.
The State Capitol.
 View down Congress Avenue from the State Capitol.
View down Congress Avenue from the State Capitol.
The main entrance to the State Capitol.
The main entrance to the State Capitol.
 A downtown skyscraper.
A downtown skyscraper.
Close-up of the top of the dome of the State Capitol.
Close-up of the top of the dome of the State Capitol.
 The rear side of the State Capitol.
The rear side of the State Capitol.
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
 The tower, seen down University Avenue.
The tower, seen down University Avenue.
The fountain and the Tower.
The fountain and the Tower.
 The fountain.
The fountain.
The suburban ugliness of Bell Road in northern Phoenix.
The suburban ugliness of Bell Road in northern Phoenix.
 Bell Road.
Bell Road.
Damage from yesterday's storm, the strongest since at least 1993, with the highest single-day amount of rain ever measured in Phoenix.
Damage from yesterday's storm, the strongest since at least 1993, with the highest single-day amount of rain ever measured in Phoenix.
 A typical tree on 21st Avenue.
A typical tree on 21st Avenue.
Most of the streets I walked had pavements, but they weren't always well maintained. I had to sidestep trees and bushes on several occasions.
Most of the streets I walked had pavements, but they weren't always well maintained. I had to sidestep trees and bushes on several occasions.
 Garbage on 20th Avenue.
Garbage on 20th Avenue.
View of the North Mountain Preserve from 20th Avenue.
View of the North Mountain Preserve from 20th Avenue.
 More signs of yesterday's heavy rainfall.
More signs of yesterday's heavy rainfall.
A typical saguaro cactus. I don't know whether the struts were erected especially for yesterday's storm, or whether they're a more permanent presence.
A typical saguaro cactus. I don't know whether the struts were erected especially for yesterday's storm, or whether they're a more permanent presence.
 A cactus.
A cactus.
A cactus.
A cactus.
 A cactus.
A cactus.
A flood channel filled with muddy water.
A flood channel filled with muddy water.
 A flood channel filled with muddy water.
A flood channel filled with muddy water.
A wealthy neighbourhood on Coral Gables Drive.
A wealthy neighbourhood on Coral Gables Drive.
 The North Mountain Preserve from Coral Gables Drive.
The North Mountain Preserve from Coral Gables Drive.
Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the Kodak Theatre.
Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the Kodak Theatre.
 The Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
The Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
 Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Boulevard.
Spider-Man, Michael Jackson and Freddy Krueger on Hollywood Boulevard.
Spider-Man, Michael Jackson and Freddy Krueger on Hollywood Boulevard.
 Disney's Studio Store and theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Disney's Studio Store and theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Boulevard.
 The Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum.
The Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum.
Sylvester Stallone, James Cameron and others on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sylvester Stallone, James Cameron and others on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
 One of four identical moons honouring the crew of Apollo 11 at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
One of four identical moons honouring the crew of Apollo 11 at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
The top deck of Dodger Stadium.
The top deck of Dodger Stadium.
 Dodger Stadium seen from the top deck.
Dodger Stadium seen from the top deck.
The left-field bleachers and video screen.
The left-field bleachers and video screen.
 The right-field bleachers and video screen.
The right-field bleachers and video screen.
The colours of the chairs symbolize the Californian coast. From bottom to top we have dry sand, wet sand, shallow water and deep water.
The colours of the chairs symbolize the Californian coast. From bottom to top we have dry sand, wet sand, shallow water and deep water.
 The press box at Dodger Stadium.
The press box at Dodger Stadium.
The organ at Dodger Stadium.
The organ at Dodger Stadium.
 The main control room at Dodger Stadium.
The main control room at Dodger Stadium.
A luxury suite in Dodger Stadium.
A luxury suite in Dodger Stadium.
 The event suite in Dodger Stadium.
The event suite in Dodger Stadium.
The event suite in Dodger Stadium.
The event suite in Dodger Stadium.
 One side of the tunnel leading to the Dodger's club house contains a mural with the names of every Dodger player ever.
One side of the tunnel leading to the Dodger's club house contains a mural with the names of every Dodger player ever.
The other side of the tunnel shows some of the highlights of the Dodger franchise.
The other side of the tunnel shows some of the highlights of the Dodger franchise.
 The Dodger's World Series trophees.
The Dodger's World Series trophees.
More trophees.
More trophees.
 The door sign for the umpires room, thoughtfully also indicated in Braille.
The door sign for the umpires room, thoughtfully also indicated in Braille.
The field at Dodger Stadium.
The field at Dodger Stadium.
 The Dodger's dugout. It is located along the third-base side (instead of the more common first-base side) so that it receives more shade than the visitor's dugout.
The Dodger's dugout. It is located along the third-base side (instead of the more common first-base side) so that it receives more shade than the visitor's dugout.
The stands along the first-base side.
The stands along the first-base side.
 The Los Angeles skyline, seen from the top deck of Dodger Stadium.
The Los Angeles skyline, seen from the top deck of Dodger Stadium.
The 101 Freeway and the L.A. skyline.
The 101 Freeway and the L.A. skyline.
 Griffith Observatory.
Griffith Observatory.
The Hollywood Sign.
The Hollywood Sign.
 A villa in the Hollywood Hills.
A villa in the Hollywood Hills.
Western L.A.
Western L.A.
 Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
 My rental car on Mulholland Highway.
My rental car on Mulholland Highway.
View from Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
View from Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
 View from Mulholland Highway.
View from Mulholland Highway.
Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
Mulholland Highway in Malibu Creek State Park.
 The Pacific Ocean at Leo Carillo State Beach.
The Pacific Ocean at Leo Carillo State Beach.
Seagulls on the Pacific Ocean beach.
Seagulls on the Pacific Ocean beach.
 A bird on the Pacific Ocean beach. (Edit: thanks to Nanda, I now know it to be a marbled godwit.)
A bird on the Pacific Ocean beach. (Edit: thanks to Nanda, I now know it to be a marbled godwit.)
A pelican on the Pacific Ocean beach.
A pelican on the Pacific Ocean beach.
 A pelican.
A pelican.
A pelican.
A pelican.
 The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
 The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
The Pacific Coast west of Santa Monica.
Sunset over Venice Beach.
Sunset over Venice Beach.
 The boardwalk at Venice Beach.
The boardwalk at Venice Beach.
Venice Beach.
Venice Beach.
 Venice Beach.
Venice Beach.
The amusement pier at Venice Beach.
The amusement pier at Venice Beach.
 The Memorial Church at Harvard Yard in Cambridge, MA.
The Memorial Church at Harvard Yard in Cambridge, MA.
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library at Harvard Yard.
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library at Harvard Yard.
 The Memorial Hall at Harvard Yard.
The Memorial Hall at Harvard Yard.
Harvard Square.
Harvard Square.
 Harvard Square.
Harvard Square.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport, just after arriving there from Boston Logan Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport, just after arriving there from Boston Logan Airport.
 Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
 Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
 Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Snow at Washington Dulles Airport.
Poor road conditions during the bus ride from the airport to downtown DC. An accident involving at least two cars blocked the other side of the road, causing lengthy delays for traffic from downtown to the airport. For us it was slow going, but at least we were able to keep going. The subway was working fine, so I had no real difficulty reaching my hotel.
Poor road conditions during the bus ride from the airport to downtown DC. An accident involving at least two cars blocked the other side of the road, causing lengthy delays for traffic from downtown to the airport. For us it was slow going, but at least we were able to keep going. The subway was working fine, so I had no real difficulty reaching my hotel.
 Cars parked outside the subway station next to my hotel.
Cars parked outside the subway station next to my hotel.
The Washington subway, a.k.a. metro.
The Washington subway, a.k.a. metro.
 Lafayette Square, two blocks north of the White House.
Lafayette Square, two blocks north of the White House.
The north facade of the White House. With a few inches of snow already on the ground, more is still falling. Overall accumulation was four to six inches in DC.
The north facade of the White House. With a few inches of snow already on the ground, more is still falling. Overall accumulation was four to six inches in DC.
 I wasn't the only one braving the snow to get a look at the White House.
I wasn't the only one braving the snow to get a look at the White House.
The south facade of the White House.
The south facade of the White House.
 The Washington Monument.
The Washington Monument.
Nooshi, an Asian restaurant on 19th Street, where I had an excellent dinner of Katayuki noodles with beef and a rainbow salad.
Nooshi, an Asian restaurant on 19th Street, where I had an excellent dinner of Katayuki noodles with beef and a rainbow salad.
 Nooshi.
Nooshi.
A dog burrowing in the snow at Lafayette Square. Following yesterday's four to six inches of snow, today was a gorgeous bright and sunny day.
A dog burrowing in the snow at Lafayette Square. Following yesterday's four to six inches of snow, today was a gorgeous bright and sunny day.
 A statue at Lafayette Square.
A statue at Lafayette Square.
The north facade of the White House.
The north facade of the White House.
 The First Division Monument southwest of the White House.
The First Division Monument southwest of the White House.
The south facade of the White House.
The south facade of the White House.
 A police officer on patrol on E Street NW, south of the White House, with the Washington Monument in the back.
A police officer on patrol on E Street NW, south of the White House, with the Washington Monument in the back.
A squirrel near the White House.
A squirrel near the White House.
 A group of squirrels near the White House.
A group of squirrels near the White House.
A squirrel near the White House.
A squirrel near the White House.
 A squirrel near the White House.
A squirrel near the White House.
Two squirrels near the White House.
Two squirrels near the White House.
 The frozen Constitution Gardens Pond, with the Lincoln Memorial just visible in the background.
The frozen Constitution Gardens Pond, with the Lincoln Memorial just visible in the background.
The Washington Monument seen from across the Constitution Gardens Pond.
The Washington Monument seen from across the Constitution Gardens Pond.
 The Vietnam Women's Memorial.
The Vietnam Women's Memorial.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Three Soldiers.
The Three Soldiers.
 The Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln Memorial.
Abe himself.
Abe himself.
 The Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln Memorial.
View across the Mall from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
View across the Mall from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
 The Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln Memorial.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial, with the stainless steel statues reflected in the photographic granite wall.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial, with the stainless steel statues reflected in the photographic granite wall.
 The Korean War Veterans Memorial.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial.
The National World War II Memorial.
The National World War II Memorial.
The National Museum of Natural History.
The National Museum of Natural History.
 The Smithsonian Institution.
The Smithsonian Institution.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
 The National Air and Space Museum.
The National Air and Space Museum.
The US Capitol.
The US Capitol.
 A little snowman on the edge of the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
A little snowman on the edge of the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
 The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
 The US Capitol.
The US Capitol.
The rear side of the US Capitol.
The rear side of the US Capitol.
 The Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court.
The Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress.
 A group of statues in front of the Library of Congress.
A group of statues in front of the Library of Congress.
The Potomac River promenade in Alexandria.
The Potomac River promenade in Alexandria.
 Christ Church in Alexandria.
Christ Church in Alexandria.
An oddly-named antiquary: "Antiek" is Dutch, "Haus" is German. The proprietor's name (Van Bommel) is Dutch. The window display contains several items of blue-and-white Delft pottery.
An oddly-named antiquary: "Antiek" is Dutch, "Haus" is German. The proprietor's name (Van Bommel) is Dutch. The window display contains several items of blue-and-white Delft pottery.
 The National Postal Museum in Washington, DC. Shown are old mailboxes from (left to right) an unknown Asian country, India, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and an unknown country.
The National Postal Museum in Washington, DC. Shown are old mailboxes from (left to right) an unknown Asian country, India, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and an unknown country.
National Postal Museum: Old mailboxes from (left to right) an unknown country, Ireland, Vatican City, Sweden, Taiwan and Denmark.
National Postal Museum: Old mailboxes from (left to right) an unknown country, Ireland, Vatican City, Sweden, Taiwan and Denmark.
 National Postal Museum: a Ford Model T mail truck.
National Postal Museum: a Ford Model T mail truck.
National Postal Museum: Introduced in the mid-1980s, this mail truck is still a very common sight.
National Postal Museum: Introduced in the mid-1980s, this mail truck is still a very common sight.
 National Postal Museum: A mail car on a train. Mail was sorted while the train drove to its destination.
National Postal Museum: A mail car on a train. Mail was sorted while the train drove to its destination.
The National Postal Museum from the outside.
The National Postal Museum from the outside.
 Union Station in Washington, DC.
Union Station in Washington, DC.
A statue in front of Union Station.
A statue in front of Union Station.
 The National Museum of the American Indian in Washingon, DC.
The National Museum of the American Indian in Washingon, DC.
A sculpture in the National Museum of the American Indian.
A sculpture in the National Museum of the American Indian.
 The National Museum of the American Indian houses a large collection of native American art.
The National Museum of the American Indian houses a large collection of native American art.
A vehicle used by Indian communities in Alaska for ice-fishing.
A vehicle used by Indian communities in Alaska for ice-fishing.
 The National Museum of the American Indian also had a small exhibit on modern art, which I quite enjoyed. This "statue" is made entirely of baseball gloves.
The National Museum of the American Indian also had a small exhibit on modern art, which I quite enjoyed. This "statue" is made entirely of baseball gloves.
Front view from the automated terminal train at Washington Dulles Airport. Given that the train is fully computer-controlled, and doesn't even have a human operator aboard as backup, I don't understand the need for traffic lights such as the red one at the center of this image. Equally puzzling was the presence of speed limit signs along the track.
Front view from the automated terminal train at Washington Dulles Airport. Given that the train is fully computer-controlled, and doesn't even have a human operator aboard as backup, I don't understand the need for traffic lights such as the red one at the center of this image. Equally puzzling was the presence of speed limit signs along the track.
 Front view from the Dulles Airport terminal train.
Front view from the Dulles Airport terminal train.