Some of our constellations go back thousands of years. Others were invented when Europeans began to explore the distant seas of the southern hemisphere. But what's the difference between a constellation, an asterism and a star cluster? And what does the constellation Pyxis represent?
Some constellations have their origins in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, which is where modern Iraq and Syria are. This Babyllonian god, PA.BIL.SAG, was associated with the constellation now known as Sagittarius.
What *is* the difference between a constellation and an asterism? Each of the 88 constellations are all officially defined as an area of sky. An asterism is a recognizable pattern, but it's not on the list! The Big Dipper (Plough, in Britain) is part of the constellation Ursa Major. It's an asterism. The Summer Triangle is made up of three stars, each one from a different official constellation. It's an asterism. This graphic gives a third example and shows the difference between a constellation and an asterism.
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