Abstract: This talk consists of two parts. In the first part, I will talk about the recent discovery of an actively disintegrating asteroid around the white dwarf WD 1145+017. The white dwarf is heavily polluted, displays excess infrared radiation from a dust disk, and also has circumstellar gas. I will present our recent photometric observations from ultraviolet to 4.5 micron and how this system fits into the overall understanding of the fate of planetary systems. In the second part, I will talk about my experience working at Gemini Observatory and European Southern Observatory (ESO). I will highlight the capabilities of different instruments and recent discoveries.