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Rare celestial event
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Good morning, Bengaluru!

🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 31 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with light rain.

🧐 Did you know? The Bangalore City police in 1963 was Karnataka’s first established police force.


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(Image credit: Sindhur Sai Anne’s X post)

On 30th September, a rare and mesmerising celestial event illuminated the city skies with its vibrant display of pink, green, and yellow hues.

What’s it about? The phenomenon was caused by the non-periodic comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, which made its appearance in the solar system after an astounding 80,000-year absence.

  • The comet was first discovered on January 9, 2023, by China’s Purple Mountain Observatory.
  • Shortly afterwards, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in South Africa independently observed it, lending its name to the comet alongside Tsuchinshan.

Unpredictable: Unlike periodic comets such as Halley’s Comet, which return at predictable intervals, non-periodic comets like Tsuchinshan–ATLAS are unpredictable, making their appearances rare and highly anticipated.


🌧️ Dry September

Bengaluru experienced its second driest September in 90 years, with only 23.9 mm of rainfall recorded, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

What’s it about? This is significantly lower than the city’s typical September average of 208.3 mm. The driest September ever was in 1934, with just 8.3 mm of rainfall. Other low rainfall records for September were in 1928 (18.7 mm), 1911 (19.8 mm), and 1885 (20.6 mm).

  • The bulk of this September’s rainfall, 15.5 mm, occurred during a 24-hour period ending on the morning of September 29.
  • Despite the dry month, the overall southwest monsoon (June-September) brought relatively normal rainfall to the city.

Better for Rural: However, broader district data shows Bengaluru Urban received 357.2 mm, which is below the normal 452.4 mm for the monsoon season. Bengaluru Rural fared slightly better with 420.9 mm, close to its normal 432.9 mm.


🍎 Apple Laboratory at MIT

Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru, part of MAHE, has launched an Apple Laboratory to enhance education in iOS app development.

What’s it about? The lab will offer students hands-on experience and real-world projects focused on iOS development, with elective courses like Fundamentals of Swift Programming and Advanced Programming in Swift.

  • The initiative aims to equip students with industry-relevant skills, preparing them for careers in mobile app development.
  • Five faculty members will also receive training from Apple.

Inaugural guests: The lab’s inauguration was attended by notable figures including Dr. Iven Jose, MIT Bengaluru’s Director, and Sudhir Nayar, Apple India’s Head of B2B Business-Govt, Education, and Enterprise.


🏢 High leasing recorded

The city is witnessing a significant rise in work-from-office (WFO) days, leading to a surge in office space leasing.

What’s it about? In Q3 2024, Bengaluru recorded its highest-ever quarterly leasing at 6.3 million square feet, contributing to India’s top six cities’ combined demand for 46.7 million square feet of Grade A office space.

  • Companies, especially tech firms, are driving this demand, with large transactions of over 100,000 sqft comprising 65% of all leases.
  • This marks a 31% year-over-year increase in leasing activity.

Flexibility sought: Flexibility is becoming a key trend in the space, with many businesses opting for managed office spaces to accommodate growth without significant capital investments. Managed flexible spaces, which allow for scalable work environments, are gaining popularity as corporations seek cost-effective solutions.


📊 Today’s Poll

(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)

Did you witness the comet’s passing on 30th September?

  • I witnessed the comet’s passing on 30th September.
  • I did not witness the comet’s passing on 30th September.

❓ Today’s Question

(Only subscribers can submit their answers)

What’s the thing you like best about monsoons?

Reply to this email with your answers.


🗞️ In other news…


🛋️ Local Lounge

Yesterday’s Poll:

  • I attended campus placement interviews: 80.0% 🏆
  • I didn’t attend campus placement interviews: 20.0%

Answers to Yesterday’s Question:

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?

Santhosh: “6-7 hrs on average, 2hrs plus if WFH”

That’s it for today. Have a great day!

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