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Crux

Genitive: Crucis

Southern 68 sq° Cru

Brightest star: Acrux

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Mythology

The Southern Cross, the smallest constellation. Not known to ancient Greeks as a separate constellation — it was defined in the 16th century. A symbol of the southern hemisphere.

Observing Highlights

Despite its small size, it contains the Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755), one of the finest open clusters, and the Coal Sack Nebula, a prominent dark nebula visible to the naked eye.

Main Stars

20
Becrux

HIP 62434; Beta Cru

1.25 mag 42.6″ B: 11.4 B1IV
Acrux

HIP 60718; Alpha1 Cru

1.33 mag 3.5″ B: 1.6 B0.5IV
Gacrux

HIP 61084; Gamma Cru

1.63 mag 133.2″ B: 6.5 M3.5III
Alpha Cru

HIP 60718; Alpha2 Cru

1.73 mag 4.4″ B: 1.6 B0.5 IV
Imai

HIP 59747; Delta Cru

2.80 mag B2III
Ginan

HIP 60260; Epsilon Cru

3.59 mag K3III
Mu Cru

HIP 63003; Mu Cru

4.03 mag 34.5″ B: 5.0 B2IV-V
Zeta Cru

HIP 60009; Zeta Cru

4.04 mag B2.5V
Eta Cru

HIP 59072; Eta Cru

4.15 mag 48.8″ B: 11.8 F2III
Theta Cru

HIP 58758; Theta1 Cru

4.33 mag Am
Lambda Cru

HIP 63007; Lambda Cru

4.62 mag B4Vne
HIP 62327
4.65 mag 51.1″ B: 8.9 B3V
Iota Cru

HIP 62268; Iota Cru

4.69 mag 29.7″ B: 10.2 K0III
Theta Cru

HIP 58867; Theta2 Cru

4.72 mag B2IV
HR 4729
4.86 mag 2.4″ B: 10.5 B4IV
HIP 61966
4.93 mag B6IVe
Mu Cru

HIP 63005; Mu Cru

5.17 mag 34.9″ B: 5.0 B5Vne
BZ Cru

HIP 62027

5.31 mag B1IIIe
HIP 63117
5.32 mag 29.6″ B: 11.8 O9Ib
HIP 60379
5.39 mag B9V

Double Stars

15
Alpha Cru

HIP 60718; Alpha2 Cru

1.73 mag 4.4″ B: 1.6 B0.5 IV
Acrux

HIP 60718; Alpha1 Cru

1.33 mag 3.5″ B: 1.6 B0.5IV
Mu Cru

HIP 63005; Mu Cru

5.17 mag 34.9″ B: 5.0 B5Vne
Mu Cru

HIP 63003; Mu Cru

4.03 mag 34.5″ B: 5.0 B2IV-V
HIP 62894
5.76 mag 11.9″ B: 10.2 B9Ia
Gacrux

HIP 61084; Gamma Cru

1.63 mag 133.2″ B: 6.5 M3.5III
HIP 62327
4.65 mag 51.1″ B: 8.9 B3V
Kappa Cru

HIP 62931; Kappa Cru

5.90 mag 5.5″ B: 9.6 B5Ia
Becrux

HIP 62434; Beta Cru

1.25 mag 42.6″ B: 11.4 B1IV
Iota Cru

HIP 62268; Iota Cru

4.69 mag 29.7″ B: 10.2 K0III
HIP 63117
5.32 mag 29.6″ B: 11.8 O9Ib
Eta Cru

HIP 59072; Eta Cru

4.15 mag 48.8″ B: 11.8 F2III
HIP 60851
6.04 mag 2.0″ B: 11.0 A0Vn
HIP 62084
6.40 mag 2.4″ B: 11.0 K0-1III
HR 4729
4.86 mag 2.4″ B: 10.5 B4IV

Variable Stars

1
S Cru

HIP 62986

6.58 mag 6.22 - 6.92 DCEP F7Ib-II

Deep Sky Objects

9
Open Cluster (7)
Jewel Box

NGC 4755

C94

4.2 mag 10
Caldwell 98

NGC 4609

6.9 mag 5
NGC 4349
7.4 mag 16.
NGC 4103
7.0 mag 7.
NGC 4052
9.0 mag 8.
NGC 4337
8.9 mag 4.
NGC 4439
8.4 mag 4.
Dark Nebula (1)
Coalsack Nebula

C99

12.0 mag 420
Unknown (1)
NGC 4184
— mag