АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS
In contemporary astronomical literature, there is no uniform definition of the term asterism. This inconsistency is the consequence of differences between traditional understanding of the term constellation, from the standpoint of the naked eye astronomy, and its contemporary understanding from the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASA
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.gi.sanu.ac.rs/zbornik/index.php/zbornik/article/view/19 |
| _version_ | 1797642759288389632 |
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| author | Zorica Prnjat Milutin Tadić |
| author_facet | Zorica Prnjat Milutin Tadić |
| author_sort | Zorica Prnjat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In contemporary astronomical literature, there is no uniform definition of the term asterism. This inconsistency is the consequence of differences between traditional understanding of the term constellation, from the standpoint of the naked eye astronomy, and its contemporary understanding from the standpoint of the International Astronomical Union. A traditional constellation is a recognizable star configuration with a well-established name, whereas the International Astronomical Union defines a constellation as an exactly defined sector of the cosmic space that belongs to a particular traditional constellation. Asterism is a lower rank term in comparison to constellation, and as such it may not denote a whole traditional constellation, as these terms would become synonymous and parts of constellations would become “asterisms of asterisms“. Similarly, asterism cannot define a macro configuration composed of the brightest stars in more constellations, thus, the Summer Triangle and other sky polygons are not asterisms. Therefore, asterisms are neither constellations nor sky polygons, but the third – easily recognizable parts of traditional constellations with historically well-established names, including separate groups of smaller stars that belong to star clusters (autonomous asterisms). Forms and names of asterisms may or may not be consistent with the parent constellation, and accordingly asterisms can be divided into compatible and incompatible. If asterisms have outlived the exact division of the celestial sphere and remained irreplaceable celestial landmarks in the naked eye astronomy, it is high time for the International Astronomical Union to agree on the definition of asterism and to compile their official list. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:04:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-239e0766f82d401b98d8be7652bc6357 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0350-7599 1821-2808 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:04:56Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASA |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" |
| spelling | doaj.art-239e0766f82d401b98d8be7652bc63572023-11-02T02:25:25ZengGeographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASAZbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić"0350-75991821-28082017-04-0167111011АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMASZorica Prnjat0Milutin Tadić1Faculty of Geography University of BelgradeFaculty of Geography University of BelgradeIn contemporary astronomical literature, there is no uniform definition of the term asterism. This inconsistency is the consequence of differences between traditional understanding of the term constellation, from the standpoint of the naked eye astronomy, and its contemporary understanding from the standpoint of the International Astronomical Union. A traditional constellation is a recognizable star configuration with a well-established name, whereas the International Astronomical Union defines a constellation as an exactly defined sector of the cosmic space that belongs to a particular traditional constellation. Asterism is a lower rank term in comparison to constellation, and as such it may not denote a whole traditional constellation, as these terms would become synonymous and parts of constellations would become “asterisms of asterisms“. Similarly, asterism cannot define a macro configuration composed of the brightest stars in more constellations, thus, the Summer Triangle and other sky polygons are not asterisms. Therefore, asterisms are neither constellations nor sky polygons, but the third – easily recognizable parts of traditional constellations with historically well-established names, including separate groups of smaller stars that belong to star clusters (autonomous asterisms). Forms and names of asterisms may or may not be consistent with the parent constellation, and accordingly asterisms can be divided into compatible and incompatible. If asterisms have outlived the exact division of the celestial sphere and remained irreplaceable celestial landmarks in the naked eye astronomy, it is high time for the International Astronomical Union to agree on the definition of asterism and to compile their official list.http://www.gi.sanu.ac.rs/zbornik/index.php/zbornik/article/view/19asterismconstellationstarconfigurationsky polygonnaked eye astronomy |
| spellingShingle | Zorica Prnjat Milutin Tadić АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" asterism constellation star configuration sky polygon naked eye astronomy |
| title | АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS |
| title_full | АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS |
| title_fullStr | АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS |
| title_full_unstemmed | АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS |
| title_short | АSTERISM AND CONSTELLATION: TERMINOLOGICAL DILEMMAS |
| title_sort | аsterism and constellation terminological dilemmas |
| topic | asterism constellation star configuration sky polygon naked eye astronomy |
| url | http://www.gi.sanu.ac.rs/zbornik/index.php/zbornik/article/view/19 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoricaprnjat asterismandconstellationterminologicaldilemmas AT milutintadic asterismandconstellationterminologicaldilemmas |