Asterism

n. three asterisks arranged in the shape of a triangle (in printed text)

Asterism may refer to:Asterism (astronomy), a pattern of starsAsterism (gemmology), an optical phenomenonAsterism (typography), a rarely used symbol
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(n.)
Three asterisks placed in this manner, ***, to direct attention to a particular passage.
  

(n.)
An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.
  

(n.)
An asterisk, or mark of reference.
  

(n.)
A small cluster of stars.
  

(n.)
A constellation.
  

Asterism Constellations in general, but more specifically applied to the divisions in the zodiac, which in ancient thought were believed to hold special significance. Also applied to the lunar mansions or divisions of the ecliptic, each being 13 1/2 degrees or 1/27 of 360 degrees, representing approximately the average daily progress of the moon in ecliptic longitude. The original number of lunar asterisms is said to have been 27, but another was added, represented on the lunar zodiac by a smaller division. This arrangement of 28 is divided into lucky and unlucky halves. As the first mansion in the Hindu system is dedicated to Krittika, the Pleiades, it is believed that this arrangement of lunar mansions was made at least before 2000 BC. According to the allegorical stories, King Soma, the moon, married 27 daughters of Daksha and divided his time among them.

A group of stars which are traditionally imagined to represent a pattern (for example, Orion) within an area, known as a constellation, on the celestial sphere.