occultation
noun
oc·cul·ta·tion ˌä-(ˌ)kəl-ˈtā-shən 
1
: the state of being hidden from view or lost to notice
2
: 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web During radio occultation, radio waves bend against denser regions of the atmosphere, revealing information about temperature, humidity and pressure. 
Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 The jet also operated a prototype radio-occultation sensor that uses GPS satellite signals to sense atmospheric conditions as far as 180 miles to the side of the aircraft. F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022 This also isn’t the first time that Gaia has predicted an occultation event, either. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 June 2022 While occultation events aren’t uncommon in space observations—lunar eclipses happen quite often—one like this is fairly rare. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 June 2022 The hour-long occultation is only visible from a narrow path across Earth, which includes North America and Europe. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2021 During an occultation, the planet passes behind the star. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 28 Sep. 2020 The team also observed the WASP-189 system during occultation—when a planet passes behind a star. Paola Rosa-aquino, Popular Science, 5 Oct. 2020 Known as a lunar occultation, the moon will seem to glide in front of Mars from 10 to 20 minutes, as seen across a vast portion of the central region of the continent. National Geographic, 2 Sep. 2020 See More
Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 The jet also operated a prototype radio-occultation sensor that uses GPS satellite signals to sense atmospheric conditions as far as 180 miles to the side of the aircraft. F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022 This also isn’t the first time that Gaia has predicted an occultation event, either. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 June 2022 While occultation events aren’t uncommon in space observations—lunar eclipses happen quite often—one like this is fairly rare. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 June 2022 The hour-long occultation is only visible from a narrow path across Earth, which includes North America and Europe. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2021 During an occultation, the planet passes behind the star. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 28 Sep. 2020 The team also observed the WASP-189 system during occultation—when a planet passes behind a star. Paola Rosa-aquino, Popular Science, 5 Oct. 2020 Known as a lunar occultation, the moon will seem to glide in front of Mars from 10 to 20 minutes, as seen across a vast portion of the central region of the continent. National Geographic, 2 Sep. 2020 See More 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