India witnesses Mercury Transit

KOLKATA, May 9: Despite partial cloudy conditions, enthusiasts here maged to glimpse a rare celestial event, the “Transit of Mercury”, taking place after 10 years. The transit- when planet Mercury sails across the Sun - began at 4.41 p.m. and lasted till 6.07 p.m. Eager to watch the event, school-goers gathered at the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM), Positiol Astronomy Centre (PAC) and queued-up patiently at the tiol Council of Science Museums for the viewing. PAC director Sanjib Sen said since the size of Mercury is very small in comparison to the Sun, it appeared as a dot on the solar disc. The transit will be again visible from India in 2032. (IANS)