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 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occultation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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