first contact

plural first contacts

1. uncountableusuallyanthropologyThe first meeting between people of two previously unknown cultures.
2. uncountableusuallyliteratureThe first meeting between humans and extraterrestrials.

   Tam is a telepath of extraordinary talent, even for a Betazoid. He's a specialist in first contact with new life forms.

   1990 April 23, Dennis Putman Bailey, David Bischoff, “Tin Man”, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 3, episode 20, spoken by Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis)

   2 more examples

   He had piloted the Adastra to its first contact with the civilization of another solar system. His lifework was done and he was wholly prepared to rest.

   1935 March, Murray Leinster, “Proxima Centauri”, in Astounding Stories, volume 15, number 1, New York: Street & Smith Publications, page 21

   Humanity’s first contact with an alien race occurred in 2157. At that time, the Alliance allowed survey fleets to activate any dormant mass relays discovered, a practice considered dangerous and irresponsible by Council-aligned races. When a turian patrol discovered a human fleet attempting to activate a relay, they attacked. One human vessel survived, retreating to the colony of Shanxi.

   2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: First Contact War Codex entry

3. uncountableusuallyastronomyThe moment, during an eclipse or transit, when the apparent positions of the two bodies first touch.