Yuvraj Singh back in Team India for World Twenty20
NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh was on Friday included in the Indian cricket team for the World Twenty 20 Championship in Sri Lanka as well as the two T20s against New Zealand in September, within months of his recovery from a rare germ cell cancer.
In another interesting pick, senior off-spinnerHarbhajan Singh has also been recalled to the team after a gap of one year along with veteran seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who makes a comeback after three years.
Yuvraj's selection was on the cards after he was declared fit by the physio and trainer at the National Cricket Academy where he had been camping for the past one month.
"Yuvraj has been declared fit, so he makes a comeback. And all of us know, if he gets going, he can singlehandedly win matches," chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth told reporters after the meeting.
The two T20 Internationals against New Zealand, slated for the first week of September, will be a test for Yuvraj who underwent chemotherapy in the US earlier this year.
Ever since his diagnosis, the left-hander has remained out of action since the second Test match against West Indies played from November 14-17 in Kolkata.
The selection committee took around three and half hours to decide on the two squads -- the bone of contention being the selection of Yuvraj and Harbhajan.
According to sources, Yuvraj's selection wasn't exactly unanimous as couple of selection committee members were apprehensive about picking him for the T20 World Cup starting September 18 as he has not played a single competitive match for the past nine months.
However, his class and experience in the shortest format was the logic behind his selection apart from the popular sentiment to bring him back which definitely played a part.
Harbhajan's selection was simply based on his past record as India's spin department is pretty thin on experience. Harbhajan last played for India against England at Trent Bridge last July-August before he flew back with an injury and has not been considered for selection since then.
The surprise inclusion has to be Piyush Chawla, who has done precious little in the domestic season gone by but dearth of quality leg-break bowlers was the reason behind the Uttar Pradesh player getting the nod ahead of the likes of Rahul Sharma and Amit Mishra.
The inclusion of Balaji is based on his impressive performance for Kolkata Knight Riders in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League. The 30-year-old's ability to bowl effective slower deliveries at the death has led to his selection over Umesh Yadav.
The only tearaway pacer in the squad is Ashok Dinda while the other two seamers will be the experienced duo of Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan.
The squad consists of eight players -- Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla and Harbhajan Singh -- who were a part of India's historic T20 triumph in South Aftica five years back.
Squad for T20 World Cup and T20s against New Zealand: Mahendra Singh Dhoni(captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy
Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok DindaInfosys employee Neelima may have ended life due to marital problems: Police
HYDERABAD: The mystery over Infosys techie B Neelima's death is likely to continue for another week as her viscera samples reachedAndhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory(APFSL) only on Wednesday. However, after a week-long probe into the mysterious death, police suspect it to be an act of suicide due to marital problems.
Police are waiting for the post-mortem and forensic reports to arrive at a conclusion on Neelima's death. As a part of the probe, the investigating officials have so far verified the call data record of Neelima and checked the SMSs and e-mails she had sent or received from various people.
In the e-mail sent to her husband Suresh Reddy just before her death, Neelima purportedly stated that they were a mismatch. "After the scrutiny of e-mails and questioning her husband, we suspect that Neelima may have ended her life due to marital problems," an officer, who is part of the probe, said.
Police have also discovered that Neelima had given about Rs 25 lakh to Suresh Reddy in the last couple of years. "We got to know that she borrowed some money from colleagues in the US to help her husband launch his own business. However, Suresh seems to have not used the money properly and lost most of it," the official said.
Neelima was a distant relative of Suresh, a BCA graduate, and fell in love with him when she arrived in Hyderabad to do her engineering course. They got married two-and-half years ago and a year ago she moved to the US to work for Infosys there. After Neelima left for US, Suresh followed her, but returned to India after staying there for a fortnight.
It was during this period that Neelima became really unhappy with the behaviour of her husband, and started feeling that she had married the wrong person. Even after coming to the city, Neelima decided to stay with her mother at KPHB.
On July 31, Neelima left her house in the night as Suresh was forcing her to choose between either going to his house in Kukatpally or letting him come to her KPHB house. It appears that to avoid meeting her husband, Neelima went to Infosys office and then the mysterious death occurred there, another officer said.
Even though Neelima had expressed slight dissatisfaction about her marital life in her emails, she did not write a suicide note nor did she mention anything against any person, including her husband.
In his statement before police, Neelima's friend Prashant said that she told him that Suresh dropped her at Infosys office on July 31. But it was not true as police found out that she came there in order to avoid meeting her husband, for reasons yet to be known.
Police cracked Neelima's email and came to know that she had sent an email to her husband just before her death. "Your way of thinking is different from mine. I am paining you by being quiet. I am unable to adjust. I always wanted to live my life my own way. I like individuality and freedom. Your thoughts are entirely different. I am not trying to fault you. Mana Iddariki set avadu ra...I am very sorry," she said in her mail.
Police said that Neelima had also sent an SMS to Suresh informing him that she was going to end her life. "However, when we questioned Suresh about the SMS, he said that he did not see the SMS. But, the reality is that he had deleted the SMS from his phone," the officer said.
Police are maintaining a wait-and-watch policy till they get the post-mortem and forensic reports. The viscera samples reached APFSL only on Wednesday and with three holidays in a row, the lab authorities said it might take a week to give the report.
Pakistan allows about 250 Hindus to cross into India after hiccups
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: A group of abour 250 Pakistani Hindus were on Friday allowed to cross over to India for a pilgrimage after being detained at the Wagah land border crossing due to a controversy over reports that they planned to migrate to the neighbouring country.
The Hindus protested at the Wagah border crossing after they were detained for almost seven hours. Immigration authorities finally allowed the Hindus to cross the frontier at about 2.30pm.
"We were given the go-ahead from the interior minister to allow about 250 Hindus to travel to India. They all have valid travel documents," a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency in Lahore told PTI.
"The Hindus have 33-day visas for different Indian cities. We stopped them temporarily after media reports said they would not return because of some problems they were facing here," the official said.
The FIA sent a special team to Wagah to interview the Hindus.
"The Hindus dismissed media reports about them and assured the team that they would not speak against Pakistan in India," the official said. The official said the team had not asked the Hindus to provide any sort of undertaking. "They promised not to defame Pakistan," he said.
Though the Hindus gathered at the border crossing at 8am, only two doctors and their families were initially allowed to cross to India.
Both doctors had "no-objection certificates" and authorities had earlier said they would only allow people with NOCs to cross the border.
It was an act of perversion: Mumbai police on Pallavi's murder
MUMBAI: A day after lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha was found dead with her throat slit in her flat in Mumbai's Wadala area, theMumbai police have recovered the weapon of offence - a kitchen knife. "It was an act of perversion," the Mumbai police said.
Pallavi Purkayastha, daughter of a senior Delhi-based bureaucrat, had been stabbed with a knife by the building's watchman Sajid Pathan and was bleeding profusely. But she managed to escape the attacker who tried to rape her in her flat in central Mumbai. She even rushed outside her door and sought neighbours' help, but nobody came to her rescue. She pressed their doorbells, but none came out from their homes to help her, police said.
Watchman Sajjad Pathan was caught at Mumbai Railway station when he was trying to flee the city. He has reportedly confessed to police that he killed Pallavi simply because she had yelled at him a few days back.
According to police, Sajid Pathan who had been stalking her for two weeks and committed the cold-blooded murder, disconnected the power of her flat on Wednesday night. Later, he waited for her call for assistance. At around 1 am, he accompanied an electrician to her flat. The problem was solved and the men left. But Pathan again disconnected her power, and was summoned by her again.
However, he succeeded in his second attempt. Later, he tried to rape her and when Pallavi fought back, he stabbed her.
Indians pack bags for Dubai 'begging fest' during Ramzan
CHENNAI: Scores of Indians are flying to Dubai on a 'business opportunity' during Ramzan. Not all of them return soon enough though, as the business of begging is an offence in the Gulf country.
The Dubai police have arrested 131 people, including 16 from Tamil Nadu, for begging during the holy month. Devout Muslims are generous with alms (zakat) during Ramzan, though seeking alms in public can land one in trouble.
Diplomatic sources said a lot of Asians head for Dubai during the season. A beggar from Pakistan was caught with 18,000 Dirhams (around 2.45 lakh) during a recent raid. According to the Dubai police, this is an annual organised operation. "Even employed people come from different countries to seek alms in Dubai during Ramzan," said a source. "After paying for their return tickets and the short stay, they still carry a handsome amount back home."
A youth employed in a media organization in Dubai boasted that he made a cool 1,200 Dirhams (16,200) in a matter of ten minutes by seeking arms on the road a few days ago.
Though details of Indians arrested for begging in Dubai were not known, sources said that all of them had Indian passports and visit visas valid for 45 days. Diplomatic sources said they were from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. Those from Tamil Nadu hailed from Vellore, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts.
Those arrested are produced before courts and serve a jail term of up to three months. "Those who come to beg here know the penalty. Many think it is worth taking the risk," said an Indian diplomat in the Gulf.
This year a number of police officials, some of who are women, have fanned out to mosques and shopping malls in the emirate to nab the beggars. A Dubai visit visa for example can be obtained for 75,000 through an agent and this investment is much less compared to the kind of money one could make from begging. The money obtained by begging cannot be transferred to India through official banking channels. Hawala operators help solve this problem with a 24 x 7 service to move money from Dubai to Tamil Nadu.
This is the system used by illegal Indian labourers in the Gulf as they cannot open a bank account or send money through exchange houses as they do not have a valid passport or a residential visa.
Bahrain, Muscat and Qatar are also preferred begging destinations during Ramzan.
Don't miss the celestial spectacle on Sunday
BANGALORE: Make sure you'll be an early bird this Sunday or stay awake all through Saturday night to catch a glimpse of a rare celestial show. The prodigious Perseid meteor shower will dart through the Bangalore sky, illuminating it much more than the clearest of starry nights.
The specks of light on the sky may be very fast and at the edge of your field of vision, and you may start doubting whether they are real or not. But have patience and you will be delighted to see three or more meteors coming down the same track in groups, illuminating the sky with a shower of 'shooting stars'.
The rare sight is attributed to pieces of periodic comet Swift Tuttle, known as Perseid meteor shower, visible from the Earth this week when the planet passes near the comet's orbit. Tiny trails of debris left behind by the comet - mostly the size of grains of sand, but some as large as peas or bigger - enter the atmosphere at 60 kilometres per second (134,000 mph). Friction causes these chunks to heat up and on contact with oxygen, they light up in flames. The Swift Tuttle comet comes close to Earth's orbit once in 133 years. Experts said about 80 such 'shooting stars' will whizz past the sky on Sunday.
"The Perseid meteor shower, happening around the world for the past few days, will reach its peak during dawn on Sunday. It will be characterized by numerous streaks of light on the sky. It can be enjoyed best with the naked eye," said BS Shylaja, director of JN Planetarium.
"The event is not much of astronomical significance. It's more like a feel-good hobby. You can reflect radio waves which will give you a deep sound if converted," said E Ebenezer, scientist,Radio Astronomy Group at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
CLOUDS MAY PLAY SPOILSPORT
The weatherman has predicted an overcast sky on Sunday. Astronomers and enthusiasts can go to the outskirts to observe the phenomenon. "Nandi Hills may be a good idea as the cloud cover may not be there," added Ebenezer.
"Many amateur astronomers are heading towards villages on Tumkur Road and Bannerghatta Road, 60km from the city, to get a clear view of the shower," added Shylaja.
Police are waiting for the post-mortem and forensic reports to arrive at a conclusion on Neelima's death. As a part of the probe, the investigating officials have so far verified the call data record of Neelima and checked the SMSs and e-mails she had sent or received from various people.
In the e-mail sent to her husband Suresh Reddy just before her death, Neelima purportedly stated that they were a mismatch. "After the scrutiny of e-mails and questioning her husband, we suspect that Neelima may have ended her life due to marital problems," an officer, who is part of the probe, said.
Police have also discovered that Neelima had given about Rs 25 lakh to Suresh Reddy in the last couple of years. "We got to know that she borrowed some money from colleagues in the US to help her husband launch his own business. However, Suresh seems to have not used the money properly and lost most of it," the official said.
Neelima was a distant relative of Suresh, a BCA graduate, and fell in love with him when she arrived in Hyderabad to do her engineering course. They got married two-and-half years ago and a year ago she moved to the US to work for Infosys there. After Neelima left for US, Suresh followed her, but returned to India after staying there for a fortnight.
It was during this period that Neelima became really unhappy with the behaviour of her husband, and started feeling that she had married the wrong person. Even after coming to the city, Neelima decided to stay with her mother at KPHB.
On July 31, Neelima left her house in the night as Suresh was forcing her to choose between either going to his house in Kukatpally or letting him come to her KPHB house. It appears that to avoid meeting her husband, Neelima went to Infosys office and then the mysterious death occurred there, another officer said.
Even though Neelima had expressed slight dissatisfaction about her marital life in her emails, she did not write a suicide note nor did she mention anything against any person, including her husband.
In his statement before police, Neelima's friend Prashant said that she told him that Suresh dropped her at Infosys office on July 31. But it was not true as police found out that she came there in order to avoid meeting her husband, for reasons yet to be known.
Police cracked Neelima's email and came to know that she had sent an email to her husband just before her death. "Your way of thinking is different from mine. I am paining you by being quiet. I am unable to adjust. I always wanted to live my life my own way. I like individuality and freedom. Your thoughts are entirely different. I am not trying to fault you. Mana Iddariki set avadu ra...I am very sorry," she said in her mail.
Police said that Neelima had also sent an SMS to Suresh informing him that she was going to end her life. "However, when we questioned Suresh about the SMS, he said that he did not see the SMS. But, the reality is that he had deleted the SMS from his phone," the officer said.
Police are maintaining a wait-and-watch policy till they get the post-mortem and forensic reports. The viscera samples reached APFSL only on Wednesday and with three holidays in a row, the lab authorities said it might take a week to give the report.
Pakistan allows about 250 Hindus to cross into India after hiccups
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: A group of abour 250 Pakistani Hindus were on Friday allowed to cross over to India for a pilgrimage after being detained at the Wagah land border crossing due to a controversy over reports that they planned to migrate to the neighbouring country.
The Hindus protested at the Wagah border crossing after they were detained for almost seven hours. Immigration authorities finally allowed the Hindus to cross the frontier at about 2.30pm.
"We were given the go-ahead from the interior minister to allow about 250 Hindus to travel to India. They all have valid travel documents," a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency in Lahore told PTI.
"The Hindus have 33-day visas for different Indian cities. We stopped them temporarily after media reports said they would not return because of some problems they were facing here," the official said.
The FIA sent a special team to Wagah to interview the Hindus.
"The Hindus dismissed media reports about them and assured the team that they would not speak against Pakistan in India," the official said. The official said the team had not asked the Hindus to provide any sort of undertaking. "They promised not to defame Pakistan," he said.
Though the Hindus gathered at the border crossing at 8am, only two doctors and their families were initially allowed to cross to India.
Both doctors had "no-objection certificates" and authorities had earlier said they would only allow people with NOCs to cross the border.
It was an act of perversion: Mumbai police on Pallavi's murder
MUMBAI: A day after lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha was found dead with her throat slit in her flat in Mumbai's Wadala area, theMumbai police have recovered the weapon of offence - a kitchen knife. "It was an act of perversion," the Mumbai police said.
Pallavi Purkayastha, daughter of a senior Delhi-based bureaucrat, had been stabbed with a knife by the building's watchman Sajid Pathan and was bleeding profusely. But she managed to escape the attacker who tried to rape her in her flat in central Mumbai. She even rushed outside her door and sought neighbours' help, but nobody came to her rescue. She pressed their doorbells, but none came out from their homes to help her, police said.
Watchman Sajjad Pathan was caught at Mumbai Railway station when he was trying to flee the city. He has reportedly confessed to police that he killed Pallavi simply because she had yelled at him a few days back.
According to police, Sajid Pathan who had been stalking her for two weeks and committed the cold-blooded murder, disconnected the power of her flat on Wednesday night. Later, he waited for her call for assistance. At around 1 am, he accompanied an electrician to her flat. The problem was solved and the men left. But Pathan again disconnected her power, and was summoned by her again.
However, he succeeded in his second attempt. Later, he tried to rape her and when Pallavi fought back, he stabbed her.
Indians pack bags for Dubai 'begging fest' during Ramzan
CHENNAI: Scores of Indians are flying to Dubai on a 'business opportunity' during Ramzan. Not all of them return soon enough though, as the business of begging is an offence in the Gulf country.
The Dubai police have arrested 131 people, including 16 from Tamil Nadu, for begging during the holy month. Devout Muslims are generous with alms (zakat) during Ramzan, though seeking alms in public can land one in trouble.
Diplomatic sources said a lot of Asians head for Dubai during the season. A beggar from Pakistan was caught with 18,000 Dirhams (around 2.45 lakh) during a recent raid. According to the Dubai police, this is an annual organised operation. "Even employed people come from different countries to seek alms in Dubai during Ramzan," said a source. "After paying for their return tickets and the short stay, they still carry a handsome amount back home."
A youth employed in a media organization in Dubai boasted that he made a cool 1,200 Dirhams (16,200) in a matter of ten minutes by seeking arms on the road a few days ago.
Though details of Indians arrested for begging in Dubai were not known, sources said that all of them had Indian passports and visit visas valid for 45 days. Diplomatic sources said they were from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. Those from Tamil Nadu hailed from Vellore, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts.
Those arrested are produced before courts and serve a jail term of up to three months. "Those who come to beg here know the penalty. Many think it is worth taking the risk," said an Indian diplomat in the Gulf.
This year a number of police officials, some of who are women, have fanned out to mosques and shopping malls in the emirate to nab the beggars. A Dubai visit visa for example can be obtained for 75,000 through an agent and this investment is much less compared to the kind of money one could make from begging. The money obtained by begging cannot be transferred to India through official banking channels. Hawala operators help solve this problem with a 24 x 7 service to move money from Dubai to Tamil Nadu.
This is the system used by illegal Indian labourers in the Gulf as they cannot open a bank account or send money through exchange houses as they do not have a valid passport or a residential visa.
Bahrain, Muscat and Qatar are also preferred begging destinations during Ramzan.
Don't miss the celestial spectacle on Sunday
BANGALORE: Make sure you'll be an early bird this Sunday or stay awake all through Saturday night to catch a glimpse of a rare celestial show. The prodigious Perseid meteor shower will dart through the Bangalore sky, illuminating it much more than the clearest of starry nights.
The specks of light on the sky may be very fast and at the edge of your field of vision, and you may start doubting whether they are real or not. But have patience and you will be delighted to see three or more meteors coming down the same track in groups, illuminating the sky with a shower of 'shooting stars'.
The rare sight is attributed to pieces of periodic comet Swift Tuttle, known as Perseid meteor shower, visible from the Earth this week when the planet passes near the comet's orbit. Tiny trails of debris left behind by the comet - mostly the size of grains of sand, but some as large as peas or bigger - enter the atmosphere at 60 kilometres per second (134,000 mph). Friction causes these chunks to heat up and on contact with oxygen, they light up in flames. The Swift Tuttle comet comes close to Earth's orbit once in 133 years. Experts said about 80 such 'shooting stars' will whizz past the sky on Sunday.
"The Perseid meteor shower, happening around the world for the past few days, will reach its peak during dawn on Sunday. It will be characterized by numerous streaks of light on the sky. It can be enjoyed best with the naked eye," said BS Shylaja, director of JN Planetarium.
"The event is not much of astronomical significance. It's more like a feel-good hobby. You can reflect radio waves which will give you a deep sound if converted," said E Ebenezer, scientist,Radio Astronomy Group at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
CLOUDS MAY PLAY SPOILSPORT
The weatherman has predicted an overcast sky on Sunday. Astronomers and enthusiasts can go to the outskirts to observe the phenomenon. "Nandi Hills may be a good idea as the cloud cover may not be there," added Ebenezer.
"Many amateur astronomers are heading towards villages on Tumkur Road and Bannerghatta Road, 60km from the city, to get a clear view of the shower," added Shylaja.
Pallavi Purkayastha, daughter of a senior Delhi-based bureaucrat, had been stabbed with a knife by the building's watchman Sajid Pathan and was bleeding profusely. But she managed to escape the attacker who tried to rape her in her flat in central Mumbai. She even rushed outside her door and sought neighbours' help, but nobody came to her rescue. She pressed their doorbells, but none came out from their homes to help her, police said.
Watchman Sajjad Pathan was caught at Mumbai Railway station when he was trying to flee the city. He has reportedly confessed to police that he killed Pallavi simply because she had yelled at him a few days back.
According to police, Sajid Pathan who had been stalking her for two weeks and committed the cold-blooded murder, disconnected the power of her flat on Wednesday night. Later, he waited for her call for assistance. At around 1 am, he accompanied an electrician to her flat. The problem was solved and the men left. But Pathan again disconnected her power, and was summoned by her again.
However, he succeeded in his second attempt. Later, he tried to rape her and when Pallavi fought back, he stabbed her.
The Dubai police have arrested 131 people, including 16 from Tamil Nadu, for begging during the holy month. Devout Muslims are generous with alms (zakat) during Ramzan, though seeking alms in public can land one in trouble.
Diplomatic sources said a lot of Asians head for Dubai during the season. A beggar from Pakistan was caught with 18,000 Dirhams (around 2.45 lakh) during a recent raid. According to the Dubai police, this is an annual organised operation. "Even employed people come from different countries to seek alms in Dubai during Ramzan," said a source. "After paying for their return tickets and the short stay, they still carry a handsome amount back home."
A youth employed in a media organization in Dubai boasted that he made a cool 1,200 Dirhams (16,200) in a matter of ten minutes by seeking arms on the road a few days ago.
Though details of Indians arrested for begging in Dubai were not known, sources said that all of them had Indian passports and visit visas valid for 45 days. Diplomatic sources said they were from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. Those from Tamil Nadu hailed from Vellore, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts.
Those arrested are produced before courts and serve a jail term of up to three months. "Those who come to beg here know the penalty. Many think it is worth taking the risk," said an Indian diplomat in the Gulf.
This year a number of police officials, some of who are women, have fanned out to mosques and shopping malls in the emirate to nab the beggars. A Dubai visit visa for example can be obtained for 75,000 through an agent and this investment is much less compared to the kind of money one could make from begging. The money obtained by begging cannot be transferred to India through official banking channels. Hawala operators help solve this problem with a 24 x 7 service to move money from Dubai to Tamil Nadu.
This is the system used by illegal Indian labourers in the Gulf as they cannot open a bank account or send money through exchange houses as they do not have a valid passport or a residential visa.
Bahrain, Muscat and Qatar are also preferred begging destinations during Ramzan.
Don't miss the celestial spectacle on Sunday
BANGALORE: Make sure you'll be an early bird this Sunday or stay awake all through Saturday night to catch a glimpse of a rare celestial show. The prodigious Perseid meteor shower will dart through the Bangalore sky, illuminating it much more than the clearest of starry nights.
The specks of light on the sky may be very fast and at the edge of your field of vision, and you may start doubting whether they are real or not. But have patience and you will be delighted to see three or more meteors coming down the same track in groups, illuminating the sky with a shower of 'shooting stars'.
The rare sight is attributed to pieces of periodic comet Swift Tuttle, known as Perseid meteor shower, visible from the Earth this week when the planet passes near the comet's orbit. Tiny trails of debris left behind by the comet - mostly the size of grains of sand, but some as large as peas or bigger - enter the atmosphere at 60 kilometres per second (134,000 mph). Friction causes these chunks to heat up and on contact with oxygen, they light up in flames. The Swift Tuttle comet comes close to Earth's orbit once in 133 years. Experts said about 80 such 'shooting stars' will whizz past the sky on Sunday.
"The Perseid meteor shower, happening around the world for the past few days, will reach its peak during dawn on Sunday. It will be characterized by numerous streaks of light on the sky. It can be enjoyed best with the naked eye," said BS Shylaja, director of JN Planetarium.
"The event is not much of astronomical significance. It's more like a feel-good hobby. You can reflect radio waves which will give you a deep sound if converted," said E Ebenezer, scientist,Radio Astronomy Group at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
CLOUDS MAY PLAY SPOILSPORT
The weatherman has predicted an overcast sky on Sunday. Astronomers and enthusiasts can go to the outskirts to observe the phenomenon. "Nandi Hills may be a good idea as the cloud cover may not be there," added Ebenezer.
"Many amateur astronomers are heading towards villages on Tumkur Road and Bannerghatta Road, 60km from the city, to get a clear view of the shower," added Shylaja.
The specks of light on the sky may be very fast and at the edge of your field of vision, and you may start doubting whether they are real or not. But have patience and you will be delighted to see three or more meteors coming down the same track in groups, illuminating the sky with a shower of 'shooting stars'.
The rare sight is attributed to pieces of periodic comet Swift Tuttle, known as Perseid meteor shower, visible from the Earth this week when the planet passes near the comet's orbit. Tiny trails of debris left behind by the comet - mostly the size of grains of sand, but some as large as peas or bigger - enter the atmosphere at 60 kilometres per second (134,000 mph). Friction causes these chunks to heat up and on contact with oxygen, they light up in flames. The Swift Tuttle comet comes close to Earth's orbit once in 133 years. Experts said about 80 such 'shooting stars' will whizz past the sky on Sunday.
"The Perseid meteor shower, happening around the world for the past few days, will reach its peak during dawn on Sunday. It will be characterized by numerous streaks of light on the sky. It can be enjoyed best with the naked eye," said BS Shylaja, director of JN Planetarium.
"The event is not much of astronomical significance. It's more like a feel-good hobby. You can reflect radio waves which will give you a deep sound if converted," said E Ebenezer, scientist,Radio Astronomy Group at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
CLOUDS MAY PLAY SPOILSPORT
The weatherman has predicted an overcast sky on Sunday. Astronomers and enthusiasts can go to the outskirts to observe the phenomenon. "Nandi Hills may be a good idea as the cloud cover may not be there," added Ebenezer.
"Many amateur astronomers are heading towards villages on Tumkur Road and Bannerghatta Road, 60km from the city, to get a clear view of the shower," added Shylaja.
No comments:
Post a Comment