What is the term for a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern?

The term for a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern is "constellation." Constellations have been used since ancient times by various cultures to help navigate the night sky, tell stories, and track the seasons. Each constellation represents a specific arrangement of stars that can often be visually identified due to their relative positions and brightness.

In contrast, a galaxy refers to a vast system comprising numerous stars, planetary systems, gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity. A cluster, while also a gathering of stars, typically describes a collection of stars that are gravitationally bound and can be much smaller in scale compared to entire constellations. A system usually references a star and its orbiting bodies, such as a solar system, which doesn't encapsulate the idea of a recognizable star pattern as a constellation does.