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Leonid showers miss Indian satellites, bore stargazers

Indian satellites emerged unscathed from the Leonid meteor showers strewn by comet Tempel-Tuttle but people on the lookout for a sign of it were disappointed -- they either could see little or the skies were covered by clouds.

Sources at the Indian Space Research Organisation said initial observations indicated that all the Indian satellites seemed unaffected. However, a detailed analysis was awaited but the satellites were slowly being brought back to life and the payloads switched on.

With no historical data available from the past six crossings of the debris of the comet, the current Leonid storm evoked much interest, particularly for the space industry which has more than 500 operational satellites exposed to the swarm of dust particles from the comet.

Thousands of people who had swarmed the rooftops and open fields, gave up as the celestial fireworks did not come off. The only excitement came when some pranksters shot off some of the more terrestrial variety of fireworks to enliven the proceedings.

"The entire show proved to be a damp squib," said a professional stargazer since only occasional flashes struck through the eastern skies instead of the anticipated shower of meteorites.

"It was a mere flicker instead of a shower," said a disappointed youngster as people scanned the eastern skies and cried out whenever a bright object moved across the skies. These objects were usually debris pulled away from comet Tempel- Tuttle on its seventh rendezvous with earth.

A senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics who didn't want to give up hope said the peak of the storm may have shifted.

Meanwhile, thick clouds and a wet spell put paid to any chances of people in Bombay viewing the Leonid showers. The people thronging open spaces and the terraces of high-rise buildings, who were waiting from an hour before midnight, when the meteor showers were to show up, finally gave up as the hours passed.

People who went to nearby hill stations and out into the countryside seeking clearer skies and a better view were also disappointed.

Viewers in Madras who had collected at the Birla Planetarium were also disappointed -- there wasn't a single meteor in sight.

Meanwhile, satellite channels continued their telecast uninterrupted throughout the night. They had feared that damage to satellites could affect transmission.

UNI

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