Asterism

Asterism is the practice of using asterisk symbols, and also a term in astronomy for a prominent and pattern or a group of stars. They are popularly known by their names, such as the Plough, the Southern Cross, the Orion, the Scorpius and so on. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) in his book Naturalis Historia refers and mentions 72 asterisms. They are typically smaller than a constellation. Asterisms range from simple shapes of just few stars to more complex collections of many bright stars.