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

From its vantage point in space, Aditya-L1 is able to watch the Sun constantly, even during eclipses and occultations, and carry out scientific studies.

From BBC

From this vantage point it will be able to watch the Sun constantly, even during eclipses and occultations, and carry out scientific studies.

From BBC

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

From BBC

From 2018 to 2021, Quaoar passed in front of four stars, and astronomers on Earth were able to observe the shadow of the eclipses, also known as stellar occultations.

From New York Times

This event, known as an occultation, lasted less than a minute.

From Scientific American