Asterismorum

Asterismorum is a language invented for the purpose of casting spells.

Usage
Asterismorum was invented by the gods in the wake of the End of Magic to obscure the truth of how magic operates in order to avoid a similar apocalypse from occurring ever again. By creating a logical framework for magic, they reasoned mortals would be satisfied by its complexity and distracted enough by studying it that the risk of magic's actual workings being disseminated on a wide scale again was acceptably low.

Due to its nature as an invention of the gods, usage of Asterismorum is not required to perform magic. Mortals are generally unaware of this fact and have reasoned that anyone who manages to use magic without casting a proper spell is exceptionally powerful and talented, or has at least mastered the specific spell they're casting. The gods, for instance, are not assumed to use Asterismorum beyond ceremonial purposes, such as in the process of granting someone their Blessing. Mortals also believe that magic can be used without Asterismorum in extenuating circumstances, much like how the body becomes capable of greater feats than normal when overloaded with adrenaline.

Asterismorum is only "activated" by the combination of it being expressed (be it through speech or writing) and the user desiring a specific outcome. It can, thus, be safely spoken without unwillingly triggering a spell, allowing information to be disseminated about it. This makes Asterismorum commonly used in music, as its freeform nature and room for interpretation make it a flexible tool for creative pursuits.

Structure
Asterismorum consists of a large number of affixes which can be combined in any order to create a word or series of words that ultimately convey what will the user wishes to impress upon reality. Different schools of thought insist upon different grammatical structures, and when confronted with other methodologies insist that their rules are at least what's most effective. It is popular to try and create a sort of rhythm within a spell, adding extraneous affixes or other modifiers - like using one's name as a signature - to reach a number and/or symmetry of syllables that rolls off the tongue.

Affixes are not viewed as entirely strict in most schools, particularly their endings. "Novis", "nova", and "novae", for instance, are all commonly-used variants of the base affix "nov". Outside of very particular schools, how one chooses to end a "word" is entirely up to one's own personal aesthetics or what best suits the flow of the spell.

It is commonly believed that invoking the "full name" of an affix - the name of its originating constellation or other namesake - lends that component of a spell more power at the potential cost of making lyricism more difficult. Additionally, if frequently abused the name will lose its power for the user due to its meaning degrading in the eyes of their soul.

Affixes often hold more than one meaning, making the user's intent critical. In addition, nearly everything in Asterismorum being a noun leaves the meaning of most spells capable of being interpreted in many ways. This ambiguity has spawned a niche hobby among magicians called spellsmithing: the creation of "unsolvable" spells for other magicians to puzzle out.

Affixes
In the tables below, italics indicates meanings that are not set in stone. Asterismorum tends to be kinda made up on the spot by me when I need it so you know how it is.

Uranometria
The Uranometria is a published collection of affixes originating from the 88 IAU designated constellations. This is entirely for flavor; the constellations lack direct analogues on Siderea. It is named after the Uranometria.

Almagest
The Almagest is a published collection of affixes originating from defunct constellations. It is named after the Almagest.

Mazzaroth
The Mazzaroth is a published collection of affixes originating from asterisms across the world. It is named after the Mazzaroth.

Macrocosmica
The Macrocosmica is a published collection of affixes originating from the gods and Creators, as well as affixes invented wholesale by mortals over the years. It is named after the Harmonia Macrocosmica. Affixes originating from the deities are always capitalized and typically spoken on their own, almost exclusively being used as a prefix if anything.