Crux

Abbreviation:  Cru
English Name:  The Southern Cross
Genitive: Acrux
Hemisphere:  Southern Hemisphere (Never visible from the UK.)
Location: Between the constellations of Centaurus and Carina.
Visible between latitudes:  +20 and -90 degrees
Best season: Spring
Seen in three seasons: Winter, Spring and Summer
Best seen in:  May
Seen between: February and July
Right Ascension (RA):  12 hour
Declination (DEC):  -60 degrees
Area (square degrees):  68 (88th)

Crux (The Southern Cross)

• The smallest constellation in the sky of all listing of 88 recognised constellations, popularly known as The Southern Cross.
• The Southern Cross; the four brightest stars of Crux form a feature shape as known as The Southern Cross, the fifth bright star (Epsilon) lies close to the centre of the cross.
• Using Crux constellation to locate the South Celestial Pole (SCP). [See the photo of SCP.]

Messier Objects

• No Messier objects in Crux.

Features of Interest

• The Coalsack – Dark Nebula; it is large enough for 13 Full Moons to be lined up cross the Coalsack. It has no NGC or other catalogue number. One of the most outstanding dark nebula in the night sky, easily visible to the naked-eye as a dark patch background against the Southern Milky Way.
• NGC 4755 – The Jewel Box; this sparkling Open Cluster, around the star Kappa Crucis – the name “The Jewel Box” comes from the varied colour of the stars in the cluster.
• NGC4609 – Open Cluster in the southern constellation of Crux.

Named Stars

• Acrux (Alpha 1 Cru)
• Becrux (Beta Cru)
• Gacrux (Gamma Cru)

Others

• Photo of the constellation; Crux, as it appears to the naked eye. (Lines have been added for clarity)
• Sky Chart  –  Crux
• List of stars in Crux.

 

Back to The 88 Constellations Lists  page.