Amateur astronomers have a unique opportunity to study the shapes of asteroids by observing events known as occultations. These happen when an asteroid passes in front of a distant star, temporarily blocking its light. By measuring how long the star’s light dims and the pattern of that dimming, observers can effectively map the asteroid’s silhouette. This method is especially valuable because it allows people without access to large professional telescopes to contribute to scientific research. The size of the asteroid being studied doesn’t always require high-end equipment, making this a popular activity among hobbyists. To conduct these observations, amateur astronomers often use relatively affordable gear. A common setup includes a 5.1-inch-aperture Newtonian telescope, an equatorial mount to track the star’s movement, and a flasher—a device that provides precise timing for measuring changes in light. The flasher uses a GPS module, an Arduino nano microcontroller, and an LED to generate a reliable time reference. For capturing the dimming event, some observers use color cameras with large sensors, like Sony’s IMX585, or monochrome cameras such as the ToupTek G3M662M, which offer better performance in low-light conditions. Accurate timing is crucial for successful occultation observations. Astronomers use free software from the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) to calculate when an asteroid will pass in front of a star. This software helps predict the event’s timing and location. However, because computer-generated timestamps can be unreliable, observers often use a flasher placed in front of their telescope to achieve millisecond-level precision. This ensures that the data collected is accurate and useful for mapping the asteroid’s shape. An amateur astronomer in North Carolina has recorded several asteroid occultations using this method. One event involved a 4-kilometer-wide asteroid passing in front of a dim star, requiring careful observation to detect the brief dimming. Another involved a brighter star, with a longer period of dimming. A third observation captured a larger asteroid—120 kilometers wide—with a dim star, where the long exposure times made the event easier to detect. The most recent event involved an asteroid named Duccio, about 12 kilometers wide, moving at 24 kilometers per second. The event lasted about half a second, and the bright star was clearly recorded at 24 frames per second, providing valuable data on the asteroid’s shape.