2006-10-26 11:12:20 · 4 answers · asked by Matilda C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
An eclipse. A solar eclipse would be a occultation of the Sun, by the Moon.
2006-10-26 11:30:23 · answer #1 · answered by Joya 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, an "eclipse" isn't exactly the same thing as an occultation. From Wikipedia:
"An occultation is said to occur when the nearer object appears larger and completely hides the more distant object. In contrast, the word transit refers to cases where the nearer object appears smaller in apparent size than the more distant object, such as transit of Mercury or Venus across the Sun's disk. The word eclipse generally refers to those instances in which one object moves into the shadow of another."
So, transits and eclipses are both similar, but not exactly the same.
2006-10-26 17:18:58 · answer #2 · answered by Jacob1207 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess would be eclipse, since occultation comes from the Latin for "to make dark".
2006-10-26 11:15:26 · answer #3 · answered by davisoldham 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eclipse.
2006-10-26 13:03:25 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋