Leonids Viewing Washed Out

PHUKET: The much-anticipated sighting of the Leonids meteorite shower never materialized for local stargazers who gathered overnight at two popular viewpoints. By 11 p.m. on Monday, small groups had arrived at Laem Promthep, (at the southern end of the island), hoping to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon predicted to appear between midnight and 5 o’clock this morning. Over at Sapan Hin in Phuket Town, an estimated 200 residents had turned out by 2 a.m. in anticipation of the peak shower, predicted to occur between 2:30 and 2:45. “I can’t see the meteors,” said Rachagon Chaikul, who arrived by motorbike with her sister. “My friends drove over with us, but decided to leave and get some sleep.” While the night turned into a non-event, the waiting game did provide stargazers a chance to turn their thoughts to things celestial. “I wanted to see Leonids and pray for good luck in the future,” said a disappointed 20-year-old Arunrat Chuwannarak. By 3 a.m., she and most of the others at the viewpoint headed home as rain showers – not meteorite showers – filled the skies.