noun

constellation

kahn-stuh-LAY-shuhn/ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃn/

A recognizable grouping of stars.

Orion is a familiar constellation in the winter night sky.

An isolated patch of night sky shows Orion's recognizable star pattern: three aligned belt stars between four bright shoulder and knee stars, with faint connecting lines distinguishing the constellation from scattered background stars.

Etymology

conLatintogether

+stellLatinstar

+ationLatinstate or result

The pieces evoke stars gathered together, through the sense “set with stars.” The resulting noun named a collection of stars, which connects directly to a recognized pattern in the sky.

In context

New York Studio School27:24

… features a constellation of stars and planets through which a dragon emerges

Panel Discussion on Robert Winthrop Chanler | New York Studio School

More examples

A star chart helps us identify constellations.
The stars in a constellation can be far apart.
Scorpius is a constellation shaped like a scorpion.

Forms

constellation · constellations

Similar words

asterism: A recognizable star pattern that may cross constellation boundaries.