asterism

/ˌæstəˈrɪzəm/

Other forms: asterisms

Definitions of asterism

1. noun

   (astronomy) a cluster of stars or a small constellation
   examples:

   Charles's Wain

   a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major

   Little Dipper

   a cluster of seven stars in Ursa Minor; at the end of the dipper's handle is Polaris

   type of:

   natural object

   an object occurring naturally; not made by man
2. noun

   (mineralogy) a star-shaped figure with six rays that is seen in some crystal structures under reflected or transmitted light
   type of:

   star

   a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
3. noun

   (printing) a symbol made of three star-shaped characters arranged in a triangle (⁂), used to indicate a text break or draw attention to part of a text