Asterism in Astronomy

An asterism is a recognizable pattern of stars within a constellation or spanning multiple constellations, often forming familiar shapes like animals, objects, or symbols. Unlike officially designated constellation boundaries, asterisms are informal groupings that help observers identify and remember regions of the night sky. For example, the Big Dipper is an asterism made up of seven bright stars within the constellation Ursa Major. Asterisms enhance navigation and enjoyment of star gazing, serving as practical landmarks rather than formal astronomical units.