asterism

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as·ter·ism

(ăs′tə-rĭz′əm)

1. Printing Three asterisks in a triangular formation used to call attention to a following passage.

2. Astronomy A pattern of stars that is not one of the traditionally established, named constellations, such as the Big Dipper or the Summer Triangle. Asterisms are often named and may be composed of stars that are members of one or more constellations.

3. Mineralogy A six-rayed starlike figure optically produced in some crystal structures by reflected or transmitted light.

[Greek asterismos, constellation, from astēr, star; see ster- in Indo-European roots.]

as′ter·is′mal adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

asterism

(ˈæstəˌrɪzəm)

1. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) three asterisks arranged in a triangle (⁂ or the same symbol but upside down), to draw attention to the text that follows

2. (Geological Science) a starlike effect seen in some minerals and gemstones when viewed by reflected or transmitted light

3. (Astronomy) a cluster of stars, which may be a subset or a superset of a constellation

[C16: from Greek asterismos arrangement of constellations, from astēr star]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

as•ter•ism

(ˈæs təˌrɪz əm)

n.

a. a group of stars.

b. a constellation.

2. a property of some crystallized minerals of showing a starlike luminous figure in transmitted light or, in a cabochon-cut stone, by reflected light.

3. three asterisks (⁂ or ⁂) printed before a passage to draw attention to it.

[1590–1600; < Greek asterismós]

asterism

Rare. a constellation or small group of unrelated stars. — asterismal, adj.

See also: Astronomy

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Noun	1.	asterism - (mineralogy) a star-shaped figure with six rays that is seen in some crystal structures under reflected or transmitted light mineralogy - the branch of geology that studies minerals: their structure and properties and the ways of distinguishing them star - a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
	2.	asterism - (astronomy) a cluster of stars (or a small constellation) natural object - an object occurring naturally; not made by man astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole constellation - a configuration of stars as seen from the earth

Translations

Asterismus

asterismo

asterismi

astérisme

asteryzm

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References in periodicals archive ?

NASA added: "Centered along the horizon is the Plough, the north's most famous asterism, though some might see the familiar celestial kitchen utensil known as the Big Dipper."

NASA reveals adorable photo of cows enjoying the Perseids Meteor Shower; The photo, which was snapped by photographer Jeff Dai in Xinjiang, China, shows a field full of cows beneath the Perseids

To its upper right is the False Cross asterism. The stars of the real Cross are brighter, closer together, and have two bright stars, the Pointers, pointing towards them.

Star charts for autumn: March 01 at 00:00, April 01 at 22:00, and May 01 at 20:00

Likewise, this month, the square of Pegasus, an asterism of the constellation of Andromeda, takes center stage in the Philippine night sky after sunset, which is a sign of the arrival of the northern fall.

Orionids meteor shower to be observed this October

NGC 6939 is enclosed by a diamond-shaped asterism, 12' by 16' in extent, delineated by four 10th-magnitude stars.

A Celestial Set Piece: If your sky is dark, you'll enjoy scrutinizing this cluster-galaxy combo

Pictured is the familiar asterism, The Plough, also known as The Big Dipper, in the constellation of Ursa Major, as photographed from my home in County Down, Northern Ireland.

The comfort of pattern recognition

Don't know the difference between an asterism and a constellation?

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Martin Steinbach (Steinbach--Gems with a Star, Idar-Oberstein, Germany) covered asterism in gems, noting that 50 gem varieties are known to display asterism when cut as cabochons or spheres, and in 90% of the cases the star is due to rutile 'silk'.

Gem-A conference and FEEG symposium

However, locating M51 isn't difficult as it positioned towards the northeast border of Canes Venatici and only a few degrees from the handle of the seven stars that form the famous "Plough" or "Big Dipper" asterism of Ursa Major.

A Tour of M51 spiral galaxy

The red star jye.ytha, which the Maitrayani Samhita (2,13,20) ascribes to Varuna, may have represented the mouth of the heavenly crocodile discussed below; mukha 'mouth' also denotes 'beginning' and is used of the first asterism. Thus the heavenly crocodile would be eating the baby sun, newly born at the vernal equinox.

Beginnings of indian and chinese calendrical astronomy

ALESSI J0530.9-4938 is known as an asterism consisting of three magnitude 9 stars slightly more outstanding in a line from north to south.

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The radiant is close to Aquarius' 'Water Jar' asterism. This, however, doesn't get particularly high in the eastern sky (12[degrees] by 03h UT) before dawn really begins to brighten the sky: observed rates of 4-5 meteors/hr can be considered a good return, and there are plenty of otherwise experienced meteor-watchers who have never seen an Eta Aquarid!