Source: here.
The nakshatra kalpa of the Atharva veda that is considered the first parishishhTa of the AV adduces a R^ishi in addition to the tutelary deity to each nakshatra. These connections appears to have emerged much later than the devata-nakshtra connection, but may be of interest to investigate what these R^ishis meant. The list is:
asterism |seer |god
kR^ittika |agnivesha |agni
rohini |anurohI |prajapati
mR^igshiras |shvetAyI |soma and maruts
Ardra |bhArgava |rudra
punarvasu |vAtsyAyana |aditI
pushya |bharadvAja |bR^ihaspati
Alshlesha |jatukarNa |ahi
magha |vyAghrapada |pitarah
purva-phalguni |parAshra |bhaga
uttara-phalguni |upashiva | aryama
hasta |mAnDvaya | savitA
chitra |gotama | tvashTa
svati |kauNdiNya | vAyu
vishAkhA |kapi | indrAgni
anurAdhA |maitreya | mitra
jyeshTha |kaushika | indra
mUla |kutsa | NirR^iti
purva-ashADhA |harita | ApaH
uttara-ashADhA |kashyapa | vishvedevAH
abhijit |shaunaka | brahmA
shroNa |atri | vishhNu
shravishTha |garga | vasavaH
shatabhishak |dakshAyaNa | indrAvarunA
pUrva-proshThapadA |vatsa | aja-ekapAda
uttara-proshThapadA |agastya | ahirbudhnya
revatI |shA~nkyAyana | pUshA
ashvayuja |kAtyAyana | ashvinau
bharanI |R^ishi-patnya| yama
It must be noted that hasta (Corvus is called the hand of savitA) and the phrase devo vah savitA hiraNyapANi pratigR^ihnAtu is used often in the vedic literature. I wonder if this has a link with the position of Corvus in the East point position during the time these sacrificial rituals were initiated. As Narahari Achar points out the association of the constellation with the East point may have been of significance for sacrificial initiation.