Students studying at Charles Darwin University will join the team of NASA funded astronomers and scientists to monitor Pluto pass in front of a distant star in Katherine. This event is termed as stellar occlusion and it occurs when Pluto passes in the front of a distant star by casting its shadow on the earth similar to a solar eclipse. In this event, the Earth, Pluto, and the distant star align together. At the same time, one can find the centre of Pluto’s shadow to be located at the north of Katherine. Students studying at CDU University will join the team of astronomers and scientists from the United States. They will bring 12 sets of portable telescopes and will set up them between Darwin and south of Katherine to watch Pluto pass in front of the distant star. It is going to be the first time that NASA will set up their telescopes in Australia. Dr Cara Esimberg, a STEM pathway lecturer at Charles Darwin University said, “It is fantastic that NASA is engaging with our CDU students and the community. Their research is fascinating and will help to inspire Territorians interested in careers in technology and science,”.
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