1. A group of stars that form a recognizable pattern or shape in the night sky, smaller or less formally defined than a constellation.
Usage: astronomy; plural of asterism
2. In printing and typography, a group of three asterisks or similar symbols arranged in a triangular pattern, used as a decorative element or section divider.
Usage: typography; printing; plural of asterism

Examples

• The Big Dipper is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Astronomers often use asterisms to help locate fainter stars and celestial objects.
• The Summer Triangle is an asterism formed by three bright stars: Vega, Altair, and Deneb.
• Many asterisms are easier to spot than the official constellations they belong to.
• The book used decorative asterisms to separate chapters and mark important sections.
• Ancient cultures identified different asterisms based on their own mythologies and observations.