Occultation facts for kids
An occultation is when one space object hides another from our view. It happens when one object passes directly in front of another. Imagine a planet moving in front of a distant star. It makes the star disappear for a short time. Some occultations are also called eclipses. This term is mostly used in astronomy. But it can also mean when something close up blocks your view of something far away.
Contents
What is an Occultation?
An occultation is like a cosmic game of hide-and-seek. It happens when a closer object blocks the light from a farther object. This makes the farther object seem to disappear. The word "occultation" comes from a Latin word. It means "to hide" or "to conceal."
How Occultations Happen
For an occultation to happen, three things must line up. You, the observer, must be in a straight line with two other objects. The closer object must pass exactly in front of the farther one. This alignment is very precise.
Examples in Space
- Moon and Stars: The Moon often passes in front of stars. This makes the stars vanish for a while. Then they reappear on the other side of the Moon.
- Planets and Stars: Sometimes, a planet can pass in front of a star. This is rarer but very exciting to see.
- Moons and Planets: The moons of large planets can also cause occultations. They can hide other moons or even features on the planet itself.
Why are Occultations Important?
Scientists use occultations to learn more about space. They can study the sizes of objects. They can also learn about the atmospheres of planets.
Studying Distant Objects
When a planet or star is occulted, scientists watch carefully. They can time how long the object is hidden. This helps them figure out its size. If a planet has an atmosphere, the star's light might dim slowly. This tells scientists about the atmosphere's thickness.
Discovering New Things
Occultations have helped us discover new rings around planets. They have also helped us find small moons. These discoveries happen when a star's light flickers. This flickering shows something is blocking the light.
Types of Occultations
There are different kinds of occultations. They depend on what objects are involved.
Lunar Occultations
These are the most common type. They happen when the Moon passes in front of a star or planet. The Moon moves quickly across the sky. So, these events are fairly easy to predict.
Planetary Occultations
These are rarer. They happen when a planet passes in front of a star. Scientists can use these events to study the planet's atmosphere. They can also learn about the star itself.
Asteroid Occultations
Asteroids are small rocky bodies. When an asteroid passes in front of a star, it's called an asteroid occultation. These are very useful. They help scientists measure the exact size and shape of asteroids.
Images for kids
-
This 17 April 2021 time-lapse video of the Moon shows Mars reappearing on the bright limb of the crescent moon after the occultation of Mars by the Moon.
-
Occultation of the planet Saturn by the Moon on 3 November 2001.
-
Jupiter (the bright object in the upper right) a few minutes before being occulted by the Moon on 16 June 2005
See also
In Spanish: Ocultación para niños
