Solar Eclipse Covered By Clouds

There was much frenzy, from scientists themselves over the experiments, and from the aam junta about the supposed ill-effects and superstitions. But the solar eclipse, the longest one this century, was a dampener in the city. Several thousands of children and astronomy enthusiasts lined up on terraces and open spaces early on Wednesday morning but the thick monsoon clouds played spoilsport. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) had sent two teams to China and Varanasi to conduct experiments. While the results were described as excellent from those two places, scientists in Bangalore had to be content with gazing at the clouds. Dr Ebenezer, a scientist with IIA said that with the cloud cover early in the morning, the eclipse could not be seen at all. Bangalore was to have had a partial eclipse with 35% of the sun being uncovered. Over 300 students and general public gathered at Lalbagh in the morning where the IIA had arranged for interactions between the public and scientists. Several pairs of filter glasses were provided to view the eclipse. "But the clouds cleared only after 7.30 am and, by then, the eclipse was over," he said.

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