The recent event in Bengaluru, where the sky turned pink due to an 800,000-year-old comet, occurred on the evening of October 1, 2024, around 6:45 PM IST. Observers recorded a splendid display of colors across Bengaluru, particularly as the evening set in, creating a colorful light show.
When and Where It Happened: The Bengaluru Pink Sky Phenomenon
Residents of Bengaluru first noticed the pink sky right at the onset of evening. Sunset on October 1 occurred at approximately 6:12 PM, but the pink hue became most vivid around 6:45 PM, lasting for about half an hour before the sun set and city lights illuminated the streets. News of the pink sky spread quickly, especially in areas such as White Field, Jayanagar, and Hebbal, where many captured pictures and videos to share on social media.
Many people who witnessed the pink sky initially thought they were experiencing a one-time event or possibly pollution. However, astronomers and atmospheric experts later linked the phenomenon to the path of the ancient comet.
The 800,000-Year-Old Comet
Experts alleged that the comet in question is around 800,000 years old. Often described as dirty snowballs, comets are celestial objects that exist in the outer regions of the solar system. As they approach the sun, they heat up and emit gases and dust, forming what is known as a coma and a tail. This display can sometimes be viewed from Earth, provided the timing is right.
The sighting became particularly intriguing due to its connection with a relatively little-known atmospheric occurrence that turned the sky pink in certain regions. Although this phenomenon might seem more fitting for a science fiction novel, it’s important to clarify that comets do not directly cause the color change in the sky. Instead, they may only contribute to the atmospheric conditions that make such a spectacle possible.
Pink Sky over Bengaluru
Beside eyes in Bengaluru lit up with the pinkish beauty that rarely graces this area. The shift of color in the sky was not by the influence of the comet but by way of the light of the sun interacting with the particles in the atmosphere and the prevailing weather conditions.
Then again, the presence of a tail could have rained fine dust particles into the stratosphere of the Earth as the comet approached the solar system. When these particles come in contact with light or specifically sunlight, they may reflect light in assorted colours just as dust and pollutants do to sunsets. This led to sky that had something akin to a pink hue, which both caused wonder among the inhabitants of Caracas and wonder among scientists as well.
Scientific Explanations
Several pieces of scientific evidence may explain such a phenomenon. Most of the time, changes in sky color result from Rayleigh scattering, a process in which molecules and small particles scatter sunlight. Blue light has a much higher scattering coefficient than red light, which is why the sky appears blue most of the time. However, during times of orange and pink hues, light must pass through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, scattering shorter wavelengths and allowing only red and pink to prevail.
In the case of the pink sky in Bengaluru, particles from the comet or other atmospheric dust likely contributed to the scattering. Meteorologists also speculate that the warm weather and atmospheric pollution may have intensified these pink light bands.
Public Response and Hypothesis
Since reports of the pink sky emerged, social networking sites have filled with pictures and speculations. Some people view the comet as a symbol or portent, believing it holds spiritual meaning, while others wonder if global pollution or climate change could be to blame. Speculation often runs rampant; however, scientists have dismissed many outrageous theories in favor of natural explanations.
Experts from various astronomical and meteorological organizations have begun investigating the event to determine the circumstances that contributed to such a sight. They acknowledge that cases like this are quite rare; nevertheless, they emphasize that these phenomena are normal and can be predicted based on fluctuations in the Earth’s atmosphere and astronomical events.
For more detailed insights into this phenomenon and the scientific explanations behind it, you can check out articles from NASA and The Weather Channel.
