Crux

Crux (IPA: /ˈkrʊks/), commonly known as the Southern Cross, is a constellation that can be seen by people in the Southern Hemisphere. Its four brightest stars are in the shape of a cross. The name Crux is the Latin word for a cross. It is a small constellation, but the four main stars are bright, so the cross shape is easily seen in the sky. Each of the four stars has an apparent visual magnitude brighter than +2.8. The four stars point approximately in the directions of north, south, east and west.

Crux

Constellation
List of stars in Crux
Abbreviation	Cru
Genitive	Crucis
Pronunciation	/krʌks/, genitive /ˈkruːsɪs/
Symbolism	Southern Cross
Right ascension	12.5h
Declination	−60°
Quadrant	SQ3
Area	68 sq. deg. (88th)
Main stars	4
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	19
Stars with planets	2
Stars brighter than 3.00m	5
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	0
Brightest star	Acrux (α Cru) (0.87m)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	Crucids
Bordering constellations	Centaurus Musca
Visible at latitudes between +20° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of May.

The Southern Cross

Crux was first described by the Italian navigator Andrea Corsali in 1515. In the past, sailors used Crux to help with navigating across oceans.

The Southern Cross is used as a symbol in many Southern Hemisphere countries and states. It appears on the flags of Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

It was used on the flag flown by miners in Ballarat, Victoria, during the 1854 rebellion known as the Eureka Stockade. The flag has been used as a symbol of protest in Australia since then.

Related pages

• Northern Cross