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Asterisms
 


A Complete List
of Asterisms

Where can I get them?

The asterisms are included with the latest update to TheSky.

WARNING!  If you have made your own changes, corrections or additions to the Asterisms &  Other text file/SDB make sure you backup those changes or they will be lost.
 

 

The newer SDB files names Large Asterism Drawings and Large Asterism Labels must be "added" to your existing active list of SDB's (sky databases) using TheSky's Data| Sky Database Manager.

 

Wide field asterisms

Asterism Name

Constellation/Description
The Belt of Orion Three bright stars making up "Orion's Belt"
The Big Bear Popular name for Ursa Major
The Big Dipper Popular asterism within Ursa Major
The Butterfly of Hercules Hercules asterism
The Butterfly of Orion Orion asterism
Diamond of Virgo Virgo asterism
Herman's Cross Sagittarius asterism courtesy Herman Heyn pending investigation
The Fish Hook Scorpius asterism
The Great Square of Pegasus Asterism of stars from Pegasus and Andromeda
The Hyades Asterism within Taurus A close - young open cluster
The "W" of Cassiopeia Cassiopeia asterism the broken "W"
The Kite Asterism within Bootes
The Keystone Asterism within Hercules
The Summer Triangle Popular asterism using stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega
The Teapot Popular asterism within Sagittarius
The Three Kings Orion
The Rake Also Orion's Belt and The Three Kings located in Orion
Venus' Mirror Orion asterism
The Winter Triangle Popular asterism of Betelgeuse, Procyon and Sirius
The "W" of Cassiopeia Cassiopeia asterism
The "Y" of Virgo Virgo asterism

Narrow field asterisms

Asterism Name  Constellation/Description
 
Fredrick's Glory Andromeda asterism
Kappa Crucis Open Cluster in Crux not an asterism per se
Pazmino's Cluster Open Cluster in Camelopardalis not an asterism per se
Perseus A Galaxy Group in Perseus not an asterism per se
Piazzi's Flying Star Interesting star in Cygnus - GSC 3168:2790 not an asterism per se
Pointer Star 1 Merak first of the NCP Pointer Stars in Ursa Major
Pointer Star 2 Dubhe second of the NCP Pointer Stars Ursa Major
The Asses and the Manger Cancer asterism
The Broken Engagement Ring Modern telescopic asterism near Merak in Ursa Major
The Bull of Poniatowski Ophiuchus asterism
 
The Circlet Asterism within Pisces
The Coat Hanger Binocular asterism in Vulpecula
The Dolphin's Diamond Modern telescopic asterism within Delphinus
The False Cross Asterism of stars from Carina and Vela
The Family of Aquila Aquila
The Garnet Star Mu Cephei in Cepheus
The Golden Horseshoe Circinus
The Guardians of the Pole Ursa Major
The Head of Cetus Cetus asterism
The Head of Draco Draco
The Head of Hydra Hydra asterism
The Horse and Rider Ursa Major
Job's Coffin Delphinus, also the Dolphin's Diamond
The Horseshoe Modern telescopic asterism 25' SE of 63 Cygni. Cygnus
I See a "37" Look Ma I See a 37 in Orion
The Jaws Modern telescopic asterism 25' WNW of M104, in Virgo
The Kids Auriga asterism
The Little Bear Popular name for Ursa Minor
The Little Dipper Popular asterism within Ursa Minor
The Little Queen Modern binocular asterism resembling Cassiopeia
The Lozenge Draco
The Milk Dipper Also Tea Pot Sagittarius
The Mini-Coat Hanger Modern telescopic asterism within Ursa Minor
The North Pole The North Celestial Pole (NCP) in Ursa Minor
The North Star Polaris near the North Celestial Pole in modern times Ursa Minor
The Northern Cross Asterism within Cygnus
The Northern Fly Aries asterism
The Pleiades Naked-eye open cluster; beautiful in binoculars, Taurus
The Plough Popular asterism within Ursa Major
The Red-Necked Emu Modern telescopic asterism within Cygnus
The Sail Corvus asterism
The Scout Double Gold-blue double star in Cygnus
The Segment (of Perseus)
The Seven Sisters Popular name for The Pleiades in Taurus
The Sickle Asterism within Leo
The South Pole The South Celestial Pole (SCP)
The Southern Cross Popular name for Crux
The Stargate Modern telescopic asterism 1° WSW of M104 in Virgo
The Sword of Orion Orion
The Three Patriarchs Triangulum
The Trapezium Famous group of four stars in the heart of The Orion Nebula.
The Trapezoid Asterism within Bootes
The Water Jar Aquarius