asterism

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WOTD – 14 April 2010

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asterism

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From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- +‎ -ism

asterism (plural asterisms)

(astronomy) An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.
- 1825, Geo G. Carey, Astronomy, as it is known at the present day, London, p. 66 f.:
  Of the constellations, or asterisms. [...] It therefore became necessary to adopt a more general method of distinguishing them. This was accomplished by portioning out the heavens into imaginary figures, of men, birds, fishes, &c. called Constellations or Asterisms.
- 2007, Matilde Battistini and Rosanna M. Giammanco Frongia (translation from Italian into English), Astrology, Magic, and Alchemy in Art, page 60:
  Like Pisces and Capricorn, Aquarius is located in that part of the sky known as "Astral Sea," a region inhabited by water asterisms such as Eridanus, Cetus (the Whale), and the Dolphin.
A rarely used typographical symbol (⁂, three asterisks arranged in a triangle), used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book.
(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).

constellation

small group of stars

typographical symbol

a star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals

Cebuano: asterismo
Finnish: tähdistö (fi), asterismi (fi)
French: astérisme (fr) m
German: Asterismus (de) m
Irish: astaireacht f
Italian: asterismo m
Japanese: スター効果 (sutākōka), アステリズム (asuterizumu), 星彩効果 (seisaikōka), 星形の光 (hoshigata no hikari), 星彩 (ja) (seisai)
Polish: asteryzm (pl) m
Portuguese: asterismo m
Russian: астери́зм (ru) m (asterízm)
Spanish: asterismo (es)

asterism n (plural asterisme)

Declension of asterism