🇺🇸
/əˈpʌls/
🇺🇸
/əˈpʌls/
🇬🇧
/ˈæp.ləs/
🇬🇧
/ˈæp.ləs/
Plural
appulses
Appulse is a technical astronomy term for the apparent close approach of two celestial bodies in the sky—as seen from Earth—when they have the same right ascension or ecliptic longitude; it's not a physical encounter, but a line-of-sight alignment that makes them look nearly side-by-side, like Venus 'kissing' the Moon in twilight.
The appulse of Mars and Saturn was visible just after sunset on October 12th.
Amateur astronomers gathered to photograph the rare appulse of Jupiter and Mercury.
Unlike an occultation, an appulse involves no hiding—just two objects appearing very close together in the sky.
The appulse of the Moon and Regulus occurred at 03:47 UTC, offering a stunning binocular view.
Ancient skywatchers recorded appulses as omens, though modern astronomy treats them as predictable geometric alignments.
puls
Comes from the Latin noun 'pulsus' (past participle of 'pellere'), meaning 'a push', 'a beat', or 'a driving force'. It conveys the idea of motion, impact, or close approach—especially in astronomical contexts where celestial bodies appear to 'push' toward one another in the sky. Examples include pulse, pulsate, pulsar, repulse, compulsion, and appulse.
ad
Comes from the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to', 'toward', or 'near'. It indicates direction or proximity and appears in words such as adjoin, adhere, adopt, adjust, and appulse (where 'ad-' + 'pulsus' = 'a coming near' or 'a nearing').