ScienceAugust 1, 2026

occulter

uh-KUL-ter

Definition

A device or mechanism used to block or obscure the light from a bright source, such as a star, to allow for the observation of dimmer phenomena in its immediate vicinity.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'occultare,' meaning 'to hide' or 'to conceal,' which is the intensive form of the verb 'occulere' (to cover up).

In the news

In this article, the 'Occulter' is a spacecraft that flies in formation with a coronagraph to cast a shadow, effectively blocking the Sun's light to reveal its faint atmosphere.

Proba-3 Views Its Coronagraph – And Our Home World

Read the full article ↗

Astrobiology Web

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