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OccultIno: a simple device for occultations timing

19/01/16 TECHNIQUES

A common problem in astronomical observations is the precise time tagging of CCD images. This is especially true in the case of stellar occultations by Solar System bodies, requiring reliable, absolute timing of high accuracy.
Occultation observers, needing highly sensitive cameras capable of short exposures, have been mostly using analog cameras up to know, coupled to timing devices capable of producing an image overlay indicating the epoch at the time each frame was acquired.