Occultation

Pronunciation: /ɑˈkʌlˌteɪʃən/

Definitions of occultation

noun the process of one celestial body passing in front of another, obscuring it from view

Example Sentences

A1 An occultation is when one object in space passes in front of another, blocking its view.

A2 During an occultation, the moon can sometimes block the view of certain stars.

B1 Astronomers use occultation events to study the size and shape of celestial objects.

B2 The occultation of a planet by another celestial body can provide valuable data for scientific research.

C1 The precise timing of occultations is crucial for accurate astronomical measurements.

C2 Advanced telescopes can capture detailed images during occultations, revealing hidden details about distant objects.

Examples of occultation in a Sentence

formal The astronomer predicted the occultation of the moon by the planet.

informal I heard there's going to be an occultation of the moon tonight.

slang Did you catch that occultation last night? It was so cool!

figurative The politician's true intentions were hidden, like an occultation of the sun.

Grammatical Forms of occultation

• past tense: occulted
• plural: occultations
• comparative: more occult
• superlative: most occult
• present tense: occultates
• future tense: will occult
• perfect tense: has occulted
• continuous tense: is occulting
• singular: occultation
• positive degree: occultation
• infinitive: to occult
• gerund: occulting
• participle: occulted

Origin and Evolution of occultation

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'occultation' originated from the Latin word 'occultatio' which means to conceal or hide.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in astronomy to describe the moment when one celestial body is hidden from view by another, the term 'occultation' has evolved to also refer to the act of concealing or obscuring something in a mysterious or supernatural way.