In the early hours of May 2, the International Dark Sky Discovery Center recorded its first scientific results.
At 3:15 a.m., the 27.5-inch PlaneWave telescope captured the shadow of an asteroid 5.6-miles in diameter as it passed in front of a star over Fountain Hills. The event, known as an occultation, lasted just sixth tenths of a second.
During this carefully researched and planned study, scientists are able to accurately detail the asteroids size, shape and orbit as it passes in front of the star by studying the light curve and number of dark frames.
