Definition of asterism in English:
asterism
noun ˈastərɪz(ə)mˈæstəˌrɪzəm
1Astronomy
A prominent pattern or group of stars that is smaller than a constellation.
Example sentencesExamples
- Cygnus - the Swan - is a cluster of stars, or asterism, easily visible in the summer skies.
- Pisces is a curious star group; the stars are dim, scattered, and don't form a distinctive asterism.
- They're located about 15° west-northwest of the bright red star Aldebaran, which in turn is at the end of one of the arms of a V-shaped asterism, the Hyades open cluster, which points southwest.
- If the favourable asterism is in its ascendancy and if it alone exerts an influence over the new-born, then its good influence will increase.
- The chart is written on paper - a Chinese invention - and is a representation of the complete sky with some 1,585 stars grouped into 257 clusters or ‘asterisms’.
- Orion contains an asterism or well-known star pattern called the ‘saucepan’ or ‘iron pot’.
- Orion and the Great Bear are two of the most prominent asterisms visible from the northern hemisphere.
2A group of three asterisks (⁂) drawing attention to a piece of text.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Greek asterismos, from astēr 'star'.
Definition of asterism in US English:
asterism
nounˈastəˌrizəmˈæstəˌrɪzəm
1Astronomy
A prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation.
Example sentencesExamples
- Cygnus - the Swan - is a cluster of stars, or asterism, easily visible in the summer skies.
- Orion contains an asterism or well-known star pattern called the ‘saucepan’ or ‘iron pot’.
- If the favourable asterism is in its ascendancy and if it alone exerts an influence over the new-born, then its good influence will increase.
- The chart is written on paper - a Chinese invention - and is a representation of the complete sky with some 1,585 stars grouped into 257 clusters or ‘asterisms’.
- Pisces is a curious star group; the stars are dim, scattered, and don't form a distinctive asterism.
- Orion and the Great Bear are two of the most prominent asterisms visible from the northern hemisphere.
- They're located about 15° west-northwest of the bright red star Aldebaran, which in turn is at the end of one of the arms of a V-shaped asterism, the Hyades open cluster, which points southwest.
2A group of three asterisks (⁂) drawing attention to following text.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Greek asterismos, from astēr ‘star’.