occultation

[ ok-uhl-tey-shuhn ]

/ ˌɒk ʌlˈteɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for occultation on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

disappearance from view or notice.

the act of blocking or hiding from view.

the resulting hidden or concealed state.

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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;see occult) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM occultation

pre·oc·cul·ta·tion, noun

Words nearby occultation

occlude, occluded front, occlusion, occlusive, occult, occultation, occult balance, occulting light, occultism, occultist, occupancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use occultation in a sentence

The answer: by watching the asteroid directly pass in front of a star, which is called occultation.
Chariklo, a Minor Planet Nicknamed a “Centaur,” Discovered to Have Rings|Matthew R. Francis|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An occultation of a planet is obviously still more interesting than that of a star.
The Story of Eclipses|George Chambers
In any case, no displacement of a star by atmospheric refraction at occultation has been surely recorded.
History of Astronomy|George Forbes
Its geographical position is pretty accurately laid down from occultation and other observations.
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa|David Livingstone

This is the first occultation of a star or planet by the Moon observed and recorded in England.
The Story of Eclipses|George Chambers
They had already proceeded together to the Cape of Good Hope on two occasions to study an eclipse and an occultation.
Tales of the Chesapeake|George Alfred Townsend

British Dictionary definitions for occultation

occultation

/ (ˌɒkʌlˈteɪʃən) /

noun

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

the act of occulting or the state of being occulted

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for occultation

occultation

[ ŏk′ŭl-tā′shən ]

The passage of one celestial object in front of another, temporarily blocking the more distant object from view. Occultations can provide information about the existence and measurements of the obscuring object. For example, when an asteroid passes in front of a star, the star is temporarily obscured to an observer on Earth, thus revealing the presence and approximate size of the asteroid. In 1977, astronomers were able to identify the rings around the planet Uranus when the otherwise invisible rings were observed to occult a background star. Occultations have also led to the discovery of more distant objects in space, such as binary stars and extrasolar planets. Compare transit.

occultation

Origin of occultation

OTHER WORDS FROM occultation

Words nearby occultation

Words related to occultation

How to use occultation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for occultation

Scientific definitions for occultation