OCCULTATION • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Occultation

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noun

Occultation n.

(Astron.) The hiding of a heavenly body from sight by the intervention of some other of the heavenly bodies; applied especially to eclipses of stars and planets by the moon, and to the eclipses of satellites of planets by their primaries.

(Fig.:) The state of being occult. "The reappearance of such an author after those long periods of occultation."

Circle of perpetual occultation. See under Circle.

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Etymology of 'Occultation'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Occultation" Quotes from Famous Books

... the astronomer of the Government had referred him to the postmaster at Rahway, "Prognosticator" of the meteorological column in The Courier, who would be instructed to give Mr. Osgood every help, especially as the occultation of Venus was near. Men do not send letters by post in a new country when personal communication is possible, and John Osgood was asked by his father to go to Rahway. When John wished for the name of this ...

— The Judgment House • Gilbert Parker

... perceived in the dark lines of the spectrum, either in respect of their number or relative intensity. From this entire absence of any special absorption lines, it must be concluded that there is no atmosphere in the moon, a conclusion previously arrived at from the circumstance that during an occultation no refraction is perceived on the moon's limb when a star disappears behind the disk." [437] Mr. Nasmyth follows in the same strain. Holding that the moon lacks air, moisture, and temperature, he says, "Taking all these adverse conditions into consideration, we are in every respect ...

— Moon Lore • Timothy Harley