Editing Light curve (section)

=== Occultation light curves ===
{{Further|Occultation#Occultations by minor planets}}
[[File:LightCurve AsteroidOccultation.png|thumb|Light curve of the asteroid [[1241 Dysona]] occulting 4UCAC 174-171272, showing instantaneous disappearance and reappearance. Duration is 6.48 seconds.]]

The [[Asteroid occultation|occultation]] light curve is often characterised as binary, where the light from the star is terminated instantaneously, remains constant for the duration, and is reinstated instantaneously. The duration is equivalent to the length of a [[Chord (astronomy)|chord]] across the occulting body.

Circumstances where the transitions are not instantaneous are;
* when either the occulting or occulted body are double, e.g. a [[double star]] or [[Binary asteroid|double asteroid]], then a step light curve is observed.
* when the occulted body is large, e.g. a star like Antares, then the transitions are gradual.
* when the occulting body has an atmosphere, e.g. the moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]<ref name=sicardy1990/>

The observations are typically recorded using [[video]] equipment and the disappearance and reappearance timed using a [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] disciplined Video Time Inserter (VTI).

Occultation light curves are archived at the [[VizieR]] service.<ref name=dave2016/>