occultation

American  

[ok-uhl-tey-shuhn] / ˌɒk ʌlˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Astronomy. the passage of one celestial body in front of another, thus hiding the other from view: applied especially to the moon's coming between an observer and a star or planet.

2. disappearance from view or notice.

3. the act of blocking or hiding from view.

4. the resulting hidden or concealed state.

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occultation British  

/ ˌɒkʌlˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the temporary disappearance of one celestial body as it moves out of sight behind another body

2. the act of occulting or the state of being occulted

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Other Word Forms

• preoccultation noun

Etymology

Origin of occultation

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin occultātiōn- (stem of occultātiō ) a hiding, equivalent to occultāt ( us ) (past participle of occultāre to conceal, keep something hidden, frequentative of occulere; occult ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

A stellar occultation occurs when an asteroid passes directly in front of a distant star, briefly blocking its light.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

During the occultation, the Moon passed in front of the planet Mars, which allowed the photographer to capture both objects together.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2023

Another occultation occurred on Aug. 9 last year, and astronomers again pointed telescopes, large and small, at Quaoar in hopes of learning more about the ring.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

Gazers in Washington will not see the occultation, but places far to the south — such as Florida — will see it after midnight Jan. 31, according to IOTA.

From Washington Post • Dec. 30, 2022

He went into occultation like the Twelfth Imam of the Shiites.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides