Crux: The Southern Cross
CRUCKS/CROOKS
Crux as depicted by Johannes Hevelius in his Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
| Crux Constellation Profile | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Cru | Genitive: Crucis | Origin: Ancient |
| Location: Southern Hemisphere | Size/Area: 68 sq. deg. | Size Rank: 88 |
| On Meridian: 9pm May 10th | Best View (North): | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Musca, Circinus, Centaurus | ||
The Myth Behind the Constellation Crux
Crux, “The Sothern Cross” is a modern creation. In ancient times it was considered part of Centaurus. It first appeared in its modern form on the globe of Petrus Plancius in 1598 and Johann Bayer included it in his Uranometria of 1603.
Crux Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.
Bright Stars in Crux
These are the stars in Crux with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrux | Alpha Crucis | 0.77 | Blue-White | 29,703 suns | 321 ly |
| Mimosa, Becrux | Beta Crucis | 1.25 | Blue | 21,135 suns | 352 ly |
| Gacrux | Gamma Crucis | 1.59 | Red | 1,316 suns | 88 ly |
| Delta Crucis | Delta Crucis | 2.79 | Blue-White | 3,231 suns | 364 ly |