asterism Definition
a group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern or shape.
Using asterism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "asterism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Big Dipper is an asterism within the constellation Ursa Major.
Example
The Southern Cross is a famous asterism in the southern hemisphere.
Example
The Summer Triangle is an asterism made up of three bright stars in the northern hemisphere.
Phrases with asterism
a symbol consisting of three asterisks (***), used to indicate a break between sections of text or to highlight a passage
Example
The author used an asterism to separate different parts of the essay.
a star-shaped figure with six rays, formed by reflections of light on certain minerals
Example
The asterism in this sapphire is caused by tiny needle-like inclusions.
a mark used to indicate a grammatical or semantic connection between words or phrases
Example
In some languages, an asterism is used to show that two words are part of a compound word.
Origins of asterism
from Greek 'asterismos', meaning 'a marking with stars'
Summary: asterism in Brief
An 'asterism' [ˈæstərɪzəm] refers to a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern or shape. Examples include the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross. In typography, an asterism is a symbol consisting of three asterisks (***), used to indicate a break between sections of text or to highlight a passage. In mineralogy, an asterism is a star-shaped figure with six rays, formed by reflections of light on certain minerals. In linguistics, an asterism is a mark used to indicate a grammatical or semantic connection between words or phrases.
