occultation

noun

oc·cul·ta·tion ˌä-(ˌ)kəl-ˈtā-shən

: the state of being hidden from view or lost to notice

: the interruption of the light from a celestial body or of the signals from a spacecraft by the intervention of a celestial body

especially : an eclipse of a star or planet by the moon

Examples of occultation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The researchers studied planet-planet occultations — when one planet moves in front of another — to search for radio signals leaking from TRAPPIST-1. —

Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 The light seen during such an eclipse can later be compared with the total light both before and after the occultation to give us a sense of the light that’s reflected off the planet. —

Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 4 May 2024 Below these are items that discuss upcoming sky events such as meteor showers, eclipses, and lunar occultations. —

PCMAG, 16 May 2024 This will favor people farther to the west, where the moon will be higher above the horizon at the time of the occultation. —

Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for occultation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English occultacion, borrowed from Latin occultātiōn-, occultātiō "concealment, interruption of light from a celestial body," from occultāre "to prevent from being seen, conceal, keep secret" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at occult entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of occultation was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century