Constellation

A constellation is any pattern that comprises only simple objects, such as still lifes, oscillators and escaping spaceships. Spaceships are frequently considered not a part of the constellation proper.

The constellation that results from the R-pentomino at generation 1103 has 116 cells including six gliders (Catagolue: here)

A constellation that has evolved from a soup, a methuselah, a single reaction or another such burst of activity is known as ash. The final state of such evolution is either:

• An empty space when every cell died.
• A constellation of still lifes, oscillators and escaping spaceships.
• Or one or more regular infinitely growing object (such as the Gosper glider gun or the block-laying switch engine), possibly with accompanying finite objects.

Constellations are named after a night sky's observation, where some stars seem to be grouped haphazard and never move: even a shooting star won't rearrange the overall look.

The familiar fours

The familiar fours are commonly seen (components of) constellations in Life that are made of four identical objects each:

• The traffic light, a constellation of four blinkers
• The honey farm, a constellation of four beehives
• The blockade, a constellation of four blocks
• The fleet, a constellation of two ship-ties (four ships)
• The bakery, a constellation of two half-bakeries (four loaves)

Less familiar fours are constellations in Life that are made of four identical objects each, but they are much rarer than the ones above:

• The land of lakes, a constellation of two bi-ponds (four ponds)
• The four eaters, a constellation of four fishhooks

Composers

Composers are symmetric constellations of three objects, usually via a traffic light or honey farm being perturbed. The first was Beethoven, which was named because autocorrect changed "beehive" into "Beethoven". Other composer names soon followed.

See also

• Constellations (category)
• Still life constellations

External links

• Constellation at the Life Lexicon