Question #27 – What is an asterism?

Answer:

An asterism is a group of stars that create a recognizable pattern in the sky. That differs from a constellation which is an officially recognized area of the sky. For instance, the Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. The Northern Cross is an asterism in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan.

You can find information about all 88 constellations at Go Astronomy.com's Constellation page.

The constellation Ursa Major as it appears on May 6, 2019 at 9:00 pm. The Big Dipper asterism is highlighted.
Image created with Simulation Curriculum's Starry Night Pro Plus 8