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occultation
This term describes a precise geometric alignment where a larger foreground object completely blocks a smaller background object. It differs from an eclipse, where the foreground object may only partially cover the background source, or a transit, where the foreground object is smaller and appears as a dot crossing the larger body.
In technical usage, the word carries a clinical, observational tone. It is almost exclusively reserved for astronomy or specialized optics, avoiding the mystical connotations associated with the adjective occult. Because it refers to a specific event or state of blockage, it is treated as a standard countable noun.
Meanings
Examples
The moon caused a brief occultation of the distant star.
Look at the telescope, the occultation is starting right now.
I wonder if the occultation will last long enough for me to record it.
The occultation of a star by an asteroid can reveal the asteroid size.
We must calculate the exact timing of the occultation to avoid missing it.
The sudden occultation of the planet by the moon was a rare sight.
The observer noted the precise moment of first contact during the occultation.