occultation

noun

1. the act of occulting or the state of being occulted
2. the passage of a celestial object across the line of sight between an observer and another celestial object, as when the moon moves between Earth and the sun in a solar eclipse
3. the progressive blocking and unblocking of light or other electromagnetic radiation from a celestial source during such a passage
4. an observational technique for determining the position or radiant structure of a celestial source undergoing such occultation or of the object causing the occultation
5. the temporary, supernatural removal of a holy person from visible existence, as Shiites believe is the case with the 12th imam