Question

What is an asterism?

Answer 1

Like constellation, asterism refers to a distinct configuration of stars..

Explanation:

Asterism Big Dipper is now called (a northern circumpolar) constellation Ursa Major.
Another synonym to constellation is zodiac. There are 12 zodiacs. The star world is divided into 88 constellations. Constellation is in common use for patterns of stars.

Answer 2

Asterism is a pattern of stars recognized in Earth's night sky, which may be a part of a constellation or from more than one constellation.

Explanation:

Asterism is a pattern of stars recognized in Earth's night sky, which may be a part of a constellation or from more than one constellation. For example, (i) stars forming Big Dipper, which comprises the seven brightest stars in Ursa Major constellation and (ii) first magnitude stars Deneb, Altair, and Vega forming a triangle and generally seen in summer sky.