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A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object. [ 1 ]
Asterism (astronomy) A picture of stars, with a group of appearingly bright blue and white stars. The bright stars together are identified as the asterism Coathanger resembling a coathanger, in the constellation Vulpecula. An asterism is an observed pattern or group of stars in the sky. Asterisms can be any identified pattern or group of stars ...
All stars but one can be associated with an IAU (International Astronomical Union) constellation. IAU constellations are areas of the sky. Although there are only 88 IAU constellations, the sky is actually divided into 89 irregularly shaped boxes as the constellation Serpens is split into two separate sections, Serpens Caput (the snake's head) to the west and Serpens Cauda (the snake's tail ...
The outline of the seven bright stars of Ursa Major form the asterism known as the "Big Dipper" in the United States and Canada, while in the United Kingdom it is called the Plough [6] or (historically) Charles' Wain. [7] Six of the seven stars are of second magnitude or higher, and it forms one of the best-known patterns in the sky.
The complexity and variety of patterns used evolved from simple stars and lozenges in the ninth century, through a variety of 6- to 13-point patterns by the 13th century, and finally to include also 14- and 16-point stars in the sixteenth century. Geometric patterns occur in a variety of forms in Islamic art and architecture.
Lists of constellations. The following lists of constellations are available: IAU designated constellations – a list of the current, or "modern", constellations. Former constellations – a list of former constellations. Chinese constellations – traditional Chinese astronomy constellations.
The asterism of the Big Dipper (shown in this star map in green) lies within the constellation of Ursa Major. The Big Dipper (US, Canada) or the Plough (UK, Ireland) [1][2] is a large asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; [3][4][5][6] six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude.
A celestial map by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit, 1670. A star chart is a celestial map of the night sky with astronomical objects laid out on a grid system. They are used to identify and locate constellations, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and planets. [ 1 ] They have been used for human navigation since time immemorial. [ 2 ]