Appulse

Appulse is the least apparent distance between one celestial object and another, as seen from a third body during a given period.

An appulse is an apparent phenomenon caused by perspective only; the two objects involved are not near in physical space.

In these cases, the two objects appear to approach each other, but turn away before reaching a momentary coincidence of right ascension.

When the celestial bodies appear so close together that one actually passes in front of the other, the event is classified as a transit, occultation, or eclipse, and not an appulse.

Appulses are naked-eye events for general observers when involving bright planets and the Moon.

The Moon and Venus in the evening sky on three consecutive days. The centre image shows an appulse between the two objects.