early 15c., "disguise or concealment of identity," from Latin occultationem (nominative occultatio), noun of action from past participle stem of occultare "to hide, conceal," frequ [..]

An event that occurs when one celestial body conceals or obscures another. For example, a solar eclipse is an occultation of the Sun by the Moon.

Complete or partial eclipsing of one astronomical object by another.

When the Moon or a planet passes directly in front of a more distant planet or star. A grazing occultation occurs if the background body is never completely hidden from the observer.

— The act of one celestial body obscuring another as a result of moving between the observer and the object being observed. The most well known occultations are the lunar and solar eclipses.

The eclipse of a star or a planet by the moon. The term occulation also applies to any large astronomical body passing between a smaller body and the observer.

(n) one celestial body obscures another

Obscuration of a heavenly body by a nearer body passing between it and an observer. 2. The hiding of a light by the interposition of a screen.

1. The concealment of a celestial body by another which crosses the line of view. Thus, the moon occults a star when it passes between the observer and the star. 2. The interval of darkness in the per [..]

The passage of one object in front of a smaller one, temporarily obscuring all or part of the background object from view.