I learned the word asterism. Lovely isn’t it? Per usual, I learned it in my astronomic research, but it turns out that it has several interesting meanings:
Asterism (astronomy)
An asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth’s night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one.
An asterism may also be a section of a constellation that refers to the traditional figuring of the whole. (such as Orion’s Belt).
Asterism (typography)
In typography, an asterism is a rarely used and nearly obsolete symbol consisting of three asterisks placed in a triangle (⁂). It is used to “indicate minor breaks in text,” call attention to a passage, or to separate sub-chapters in a book.
Asterism(gemology)
As asterism is an optical phenomenon in gemstones displayed by some rubies, sapphires, and other gems…of an enhanced reflective area in the shape of a “star” on the surface of a cabochon (shaped and polished as opposed to faceted) cut from the stone.
Image credits:
http://earthsky.org/favorite-star-patterns/winter-circle-highlights-brightest-winter-stars#asterism
https://bobmoler.wordpress.com/tag/orions-belt/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterism_(typography)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterism_(gemology)
[All definitions taken directly from wikipedia]
Astrelabe* 