English

The "Summer Triangle", an asterism easily seen overhead during clear summer nights (in the northern hemisphere).

An asterism (mineralogy)

Noun

asterism ‎(plural asterisms)

1. (astronomy) A constellation.
   • 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, p. 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.

2. (astronomy) A small group of stars that forms a visible pattern but is not an official constellation.

   The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.

3. 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.
4. (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).

Translations

Related terms

• aster
• asterisk
• asteroid

See also

• syzygy

Anagrams

• smarties