Asterism (astronomy)

:For other meanings of asterism, see asterism.

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In astronomy, an asterism is a recognized pattern of stars seen in Earth's sky which is neither an official constellation nor a true star cluster. Asterisms are considered to be distinct from constellations, although the origin of most constellations is also a recognizable pattern of stars. An asterism might be a part of a constellation, a pattern composed of stars from two or more constellations, or a smaller distinctive pattern of stars which are not physically associated and are therefore not classified as a cluster.

Related Topics:
Astronomy - Constellation - Star cluster

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Examples of asterisms include:

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• the Big Dipper in Ursa Major;
• the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor;
• the Teapot in Sagittarius,
• Orion's belt;
• the Summer Triangle (Deneb, Altair, and Vega, or α Cygni, Aquilae, and Lyrae);
• the Great Square of Pegasus (which includes α Andromedae);
• the Urn in Aquarius;
• the Sickle in Leo;
• Kemble's Cascade in Camelopardalis;
• The Coathanger in Vulpecula (part of Brocchi's Cluster);
• The False Cross in Vela and Puppis;
• The Pointers in Centaurus;
• The Great Hook in Scorpius.

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