Constellation

Groups of stars with a recognisable pattern and an ancient mythological correspondence. The ancients named 48 constellations, mostly for objects or heroes of mythology. And, since AD1600, additional groups have been named, to fill the large spaces between the ancient groups (which were occupied, primarily, with inconspicuous stars), thus enlarging the number to 85 (or 88, if Argo is divided into 4 smaller groups). Astronomers, by international agreement, have redefined new boundaries for Astronomical Constellations, which omit no section of the sky; these new boundaries bear little resemblance to the ancient forms.