Observing · The Moon · Comets and asteroids
Occultation
Say it: ok-ul-TAY-shun IPA: /ˌɑkʌlˈteɪʃən/ noun
Occultation: The hiding of a celestial object by another body passing in front of it.
A star can appear to blink out when the Moon or an asteroid crosses the line of sight. The star remains there; the foreground object blocks its light.
- Example
- Observers timed the star's disappearance during the asteroid occultation.
- Why astronomers use it
- Timing from different locations can constrain an object's size, shape, rings, or atmosphere.
- Tiny cosmic connection
- Apparent closeness in the sky is not enough: the objects must overlap along the observer's line of sight.
Observatory Observing The Moon Comets and asteroids
Where to check it
Written for Cool Moon Facts in its own words; the sources cover the same idea in more depth.