The Bridge to Burnham Island

 

 Autumn is the perfect time to visit Chicago's Graceland Cemetery. A private cemetery founded in 1860, Graceland is the final resting place for many of Chicago's famous people such as Marshall Field, Louis Sullivan, McCormick, Potter Palmer, Minnie Minoso. 

In addition to the famous names and incredible monuments, the cemetery is a registered arboretum, offering beautiful views in every direction. Daniel Burnham, a famous Chicago architect, is buried on a small island in Lake Willowmere, the beautiful lake on the west end of the cemetery. A footbridge surrounded by Maple trees leads visitors to his final resting place, marked by a simple granite boulder. Views from the island include the monuments of the McCormick family, Potter Palmer. William Goodman, and Ernie Banks. 

The cemetery draws visitors from all around the world, but is a go-to for locals who frequently walk through the beautifully manicured lanes taking in the scenery.

Comet Over the Grassland

About an hour after sunset, I headed out to the Orland Grassland to capture a rare occurance in the night sky, a comet. Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas to be exact. While the comet is supposed to be visible to the naked eye, here near Chicago, the sky is simply too bright for it to stand out. I suspect it will be more visible in dark sky areas, but it's so close to the horizon after sunset, I don't expect it to rise high enough to view later at night, but traveling at speeds over 150,000 miles per hour, it is getting higher each day -and farther away from earth as well. 

 The comet is supposed to be visible through the end of October, so get out and see it soon before it slowly disappears into the vastness of the night sky. But don't worry, it will return close to earth again in another 80,000 years, providing it holds together that long.