ENID, OK - The NOC Enid Observatory successfully measured the light output from a very distant star as the asteroid 32 Pomona passed in front of the star on March 6.
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The NOC Observatory was uniquely situated so that the shadow of the asteroid passed directly over the telescope at 11:03 p.m.
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NOC Enid Astronomy instructor Fritz Osell was contacted by members of the International Occultation Timing Association at the request of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena to try to measure the change of light as the asteroid passed in front of the star.
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This asteroid had only been measured twice before.
The NOC Observatory was very successful in measuring the event, according to Osell.
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“Our telescope recorded 22.8 seconds of the event as the shadow passed directly over the NOC Observatory at a speed of 1000 miles per hour,” he said.
The light curve was measured from the star as the asteroid passed over the NOC Observatory in Enid. The comparison from the two curves directly from the NOC telescope clearly showed the drop in light intensity as the asteroid passed in front of the star.
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Further analysis of this measurement conducted by the professional research community will determine properties of the asteroid.
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An observation of the event was attempted in Blackwell but missed the star and an attempt from Bartlesville focused on the wrong star.
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According to Osell, NOC Enid was the only one that recorded the measurements. He said there may have been a successful observation in Arizona but only 15 seconds of the event was recorded. This was an international effort.
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“This is a good example how undergraduate students at small college observatories can conduct research projects that contribute to the professional research community,” Osell said. “Students at NOC learn astronomy by doing astronomy.”
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Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s oldest community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services which create life-changing experiences and develop students as effective learners and leaders within their communities in a connected, ever changing world.
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Serving nearly 5,000 students, NOC is a public, two-year community college with locations in Tonkawa, Enid and Stillwater. The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science. The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.
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For more information about Northern Oklahoma College or giving to the NOC Foundation, please contact the development office at (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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NOC Enid Observatory measures star light output
