Asterism (typography)

In typography, an asterism, , is a typographic symbol consisting of three asterisks placed in a triangle, which is used for a variety of purposes. The name originates from the astronomical term for a group of stars.From the Greek astēr (star) Alexander Humez, Nicholas D. Humez (2008). On the Dot: The Speck That Changed the World, p. 72 & 186n. .

The asterism was originally used as a type of dinkus in typography, though increasingly rarely. It can also be used to mean "untitled" or author or title withheld as seen, for example, in some editions of Album for the Young by composer Robert Schumann (№ 21, 26, and 30).Taruskin, Richard (2005). The Oxford history of western music, Volume 3, p. 311. .

In meteorology, an asterism in a station model plot indicates moderate snowfall.

Dinkus

A dinkus is a typographical device to divide text, such as at section breaks. Its purpose is to "indicate minor breaks in text", to call attention to a passage, or to separate sub-chapters in a book. An asterism used this way is thus a type of dinkus: nowadays this usage of the symbol is nearly obsolete.Radim Peško, Louis Lüthi (2007). Dot Dot Dot 13, p. 193. Stuart Bailey, Peter Bilak, eds. . More commonly used dinkuses are three dots or three asterisks in a horizontal row.

See also Asterism (disambiguation) (other uses of the word)

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