Constellation

In polyamory and other forms of ethical non-monogamy, a constellation is the full network of people linked through interconnected romantic or sexual relationships. It maps one person's partners, their partners' partners, and how everyone relates to one another. The term is used interchangeably with polycule, a blend of polyamory and molecule that pictures the group like atoms bonded into a shape. A constellation can be small, such as a triad or a V, or large and sprawling. The metaphor captures how these relationships form a wider pattern of care, where each connection stands on its own while together they make up something larger. Configurations shift over time as relationships begin, change, or end.