Mangaloreans turn their eyes skyward as Venus travels across sun

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)
June 6, 2012

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Mangalore, June 6: People in the city turned their attention to the daytime sky on Wednesday to make sure they caught the once-in-a-lifetime sight of the transit of Venus.

For some astro-enthusiasts, it wasn't just a rare planetary spectacle as it won't be seen for another 105 years. They hoped the passage of Venus between the Earth and the sun would spark curiosity about the universe and our place in it.

A large number of students and general public took benefit of the special arrangements made by Amateur Astronomers' Association of Mangalore to observe the rare astronomical phenomenon at St. Agnes College in the city.

Telescopes with special filters were set up on the College building and people took turns peering at the sun before and during the transit. Volunteers lectured about the rarity of a Venus pass to anyone who would listen. Children were seen jumping with joy when the witnessed Venus pass, like a moving beauty spot.

Sangeetha bunked the classes to bring her little brother Suman to this observatory. Sporting eclipse glasses, it took a little while before they spotted Venus. "I'm still having fun. It's an experience. Many of my family members and friends missed this opportunity," she said.

As part of the arrangement there was a video presentation too.

Sneha, a 20-year-old engineer took a half day leave went with her friend to the observatory. She admitted she wasn't an astronomy buff but could not miss this opportunity. Watching the celestial event she said: “It makes you feel like a small speck in the universe."

Meanwhile, experts have warned the terrestrial stargazers to only look at the celestial event with a properly filtered telescope or cardboard eclipse glasses. If the sun is viewed directly, permanent eye damage could result.

Venus, which is extremely hot, is one of Earth's two neighbours and is so close in size to our planet that scientists at times call them near-twins. During the transit, it will appear as a small dot.

This will be the seventh transit visible since German astronomer Johannes Kepler first predicted the phenomenon in the 17th century. Because of the shape and speed of Venus' orbit around the sun and its relationship to Earth's annual trip, transits occur in pairs separated by more than a century.

It's nowhere near as dramatic and awe-inspiring as a total solar eclipse, which sweeps a shadow across the Earth, but there will be six more of those this decade.

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News Network
January 17,2020

Udupi, Jan 17: Six fishermen were rescued by members of another fishing boat after their boat capsized off Gangolli coast in the District recently.

Police on Friday said that the fishing boat, belonging to Jayalakshmi of Kodi Kanyana, had set sail from Malpe towards Gangolli on the night of January 12. On Wednesday (Jan 15) the vessel’s hull got damaged and water began gushing in.

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News Network
July 2,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 2: Karnataka government has issued a show-cause notice to 18 private hospitals for refusing to admit a 52-year-old patient with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms, who later died.

According to the notice dated on June 30, a 52-years patient named Bhawarlal Sujani died after he was denied admission by 18 private hospitals.

The patient was taken to these hospitals on Saturday and Sunday for admission on observing some ILI like symptoms. But none of these hospitals admitted in on the pretext of unavailability of bed/ventilators, read the notice.

This is a clear violation of providing medical assistance and admission necessitated under the agreed provision of KPME Registration. They should strictly adhere to the provisions under Sections 11 & 11 A of KPME Act 2017. Private Medical Establishments cannot deny/ refuse/ avoid treatment to patients with Covid-19 and Covid-19 like symptoms, the state Health Department said.

By denying the admission to the deceased patient, your hospitals have violated the provisions of the above-said act. You are liable for legal action in this regard, as per the notice.

The state Health department asked the hospitals to reply as to why action should not be initiated under the relevant Acts. 

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News Network
June 3,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 3: Mangaluru MLA and former minister U T Khader has urged the state government and Dakshina Kannada district administration to take steps to facilitate the return of Indians stranded in foreign countries amid covid lockdown.

A delegation comprising Mr Khader, DCC President K Harish Kumar, and MLC Ivan D’Souza met District In-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary and submitted a memorandum on Tuesday.

“Kannadigas who are working outside the state are in distress due to the lockdown. More than 50,000 people had uploaded applications on Seva Sindhu portal seeking permission to return to their villagers and are waiting for permission. With the authorities failing to take any decision, they are worried,” said the delegation.

The government should initiate measures to get them back and quarantine them, urged the delegation.

Mr Khader said, “Many workers stranded in foreign countries are eager to return home. The district administration should make arrangements to quarantine those returning from foreign countries and other states.

There are thousands of migrant labourers from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar stranded in DK. They are waiting to return to their families. The state government should facilitate their return journey, the delegation urged.

MLC Ivan D’Souza said, “Assistance should be provided to private bus staff, beedi workers, tailors, garage labourers and street vendors who are in distress. The price of Covid-19 tests in private laboratories should be reduced.”

The delegation informed that after Wenlock Hospital was converted into the designated COVID-19 hospital, poor patients are facing many inconveniences. A portion of the hospital should be earmarked for treating other patients, they said.

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