Crux

Crux
Constellation
Crux
AbbreviationCru
GenitiveCrucis
Pronunciation/krʌks/, genitive /ˈkrsɪs/
SymbolismSouthern Cross
Right ascension12.5h
Declination−60°
QuadrantSQ3
Area68 sq. deg. (88th)
Main stars4
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
19
Stars with planets2
Stars brighter than 3.00m5
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)0
Brightest starAcrux (α Cru) (0.87m)
Messier objects0
Meteor showersCrucids
Bordering
constellations
Centaurus
Musca
Visible at latitudes between +20° and −90°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of May.
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Crux (/krʌks/) is a constellation of the southern sky that is centred on four bright stars in a cross-shaped asterism commonly known as the Southern Cross. It lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band. The name Crux is Latin for cross. Even though it is the smallest of all 88 modern constellations, Crux is among the most easily distinguished as its four main stars each have an apparent visual magnitude brighter than +2.8. It has attained a high level of cultural significance in many Southern Hemisphere states and nations.

Blue-white α Crucis (Acrux) is the most southerly member of the constellation and, at magnitude 0.8, the brightest. The three other stars of the cross appear clockwise and in order of lessening magnitude: β Crucis (Mimosa), γ Crucis (Gacrux), and δ Crucis (Imai). ε Crucis (Ginan) also lies within the cross asterism. Many of these brighter stars are members of the Scorpius–Centaurus association, a large but loose group of hot blue-white stars that appear to share common origins and motion across the southern Milky Way.

Crux contains four Cepheid variables, each visible to the naked eye under optimum conditions. Crux also contains the bright and colourful open cluster known as the Jewel Box (NGC 4755) on its eastern border. Nearby to the southeast is a large dark nebula spanning 7° by 5° known as the Coalsack Nebula, portions of which are mapped in the neighbouring constellations of Centaurus and Musca.


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