BANGALORE, NOV 15: Heavens might play spoilsport on the day of the spectacular meteoric storm. Astronomers fear the cyclone arising in the Bay of Bengal could dampen not just the sight, but also the spirits of the people.The scientist in charge of the Vainu Bappu observatory in Kavalur, Professor G S D Babu, said there was a possibility of the cyclone covering the southern peninsula, which could lead to a cloudy and unclear sky on November 18, the much awaited day.Director of the Bangalore Meteorological Centre, Dr Anand Koppar, told The Indian Express that there was a possibility of the sky being cloudy on November 16 and 17.A deep depression in the Central Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify and become a cyclonic storm. But because the storm was traced to be moving in the north-westerly direction, it would bring rain only to Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, and Karnataka would be free from rain. ``But there is a definite possibility of the sky being slightly cloudy and unclear,'' hesaid.Meanwhile, astronomers have urged the Bangalore City Corporation, Karnataka Electricity Board and the city police to have neon and sodium lights, switched off so that the spectacle can be viewed in a clear dark sky. ``Lights, other than those necessary for law and order, should be switched off and the night light level should be kept down for the people to watch the magnificent sight,'' says Professor Rajesh Kochhar of the Indian Institute of Astro Physics.People can expect to see the meteoric showers if they look towards the east, in the direction of the constellation Leo. They can see lines of fire come down on November 18 from 1 am onwards, watch it increase in number, peak at 2:10 am and go on till the sun rises, Prof Kochhar says.``As you sit through the night, you can watch Jupiter in Aquarius, Saturn in Pisces and Mars in Leo. That's the direction you are looking for. Therefore, if Mars is up, so is Leo - the best possible clue to identify Leo. The moon does not bother you at all,'' saysB S Shylaja of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium. And you can photograph the event too. Prof Kochhar suggests using fast and sensitive films that can even catch the fading of the spectacle.
