asterism

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.3.2 Related terms 1.4 See also

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (“‘group of stars’”), from ἀστήρ (“‘star’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈastəɹɪzəm/

[edit] Noun

asterism (plural asterisms)

1. (astronomy) A small group of stars that forms a visible pattern but is not an official constellation.
2. A rarely used typographical symbol (⁂, three asterisks arranged in a triangle), used to call attention to a passage or to separate sub-chapters in a book.
3. (mineralogy) A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• aster
• asterisk
• asteroid

[edit] See also

• syzygy