Bangalore:
With the onset of southwest monsoon in coastal and southern Karnataka, rain-bearing clouds marred a clear view of the Venus transiting across the sun early on Wednesday, though thousands were able to watch the spectacle in northern regions due to clear sky.
In India's technology hub, an overcast sky earlier in the day and clouds playing hide and seek later did not dampen the enthusiasm of its denizens, especially youths from getting a glimpse of the rare celestial phenomenon that occurs once in a century.
"We were a bit disappointed when we woke up to find a cloudy sky blocking the transit of Venus but were delighted to view it for a while when thick clouds made way and the sun shone. It was exciting to watch a dark object moving from left to right slowly," an elated 15-year-old Sunil Kumar told IANS after the four-hour long event concluded.
People in the coastal districts and south interior areas were, however, not so lucky to see the planet's transit as dark clouds hung over and rain gods played spoilsport.
A clear sky and a bright morning in central and northern districts of the state enabled thousands of people to view the exercise with the help of filters, eclipse glasses, telescopes of different sizes and as a reflection on mirrors.
Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi (BGVS), an all India not-for-profit organisation set to up popularise science, made elaborate arrangements for experiencing the astronomical event across Bangalore in schools, colleges, playgrounds and at four major locations - Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Jawaharlal Planetarium and atop the rock monument in Lalbagh botanical garden.
"About 500 people, mostly youths from schools and colleges, assembled at each major location and waited patiently for clouds to clear so as to view the spectacle. Amateur astronomers and science teachers were present to explain the phenomenon to the young and the old in English and Kannada," BGVS secretary Vajramuni told IANS.