What are transits and occultations?

Transits and occultations are like when one object passes in front of another, blocking its view, just like when a cloud covers the sun or a shadow blocks your view of a toy.

Transits happen when a smaller object moves across the face of a larger one. Imagine you're sitting on a chair, and your friend walks in front of you, blocking part of your view. That’s like how a planet might pass in front of its star, we call this a transit.

Occultations are similar, but instead of something moving across the face of another object, one object completely hides the other. It's like when you stand up and block all of your friend's view, now they can't see anything behind you! This is what happens during an occultation, such as when the moon passes in front of a star or planet.

These events help scientists learn about faraway objects, just like how you might guess what’s behind a curtain by watching the shadow it casts. It's like a fun game of hide-and-seek in space!