The Constellation Crux, the Southern Cross
Click on image for full size
Crux - The Southern Cross
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you must be south of latitude
30 degrees to begin observing Crux, one of the smallest, but most
easily recognized constellations in the sky. Crux lies along the
Milky Way and is surrounded by
Centaurus,
the Centaur, on three sides.
In the foot of the cross you will find Acrux, the brightest star
of this constellation. Acrux is really a double-star system.
Despite its small area, Crux contains at least ten open clusters
visible with small telescopes.
Because it is not visible from most latitudes in the Northern
hemisphere, Crux is a modern constellation and has no Greek or
Roman myths associated with it. Crux was used by explorers of
the southern hemisphere to point south since, unlike the north
celestial pole, the south celestial pole is not marked by any
bright star.
Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!
The
Summer 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, available in our
online store, includes articles on rivers and snow, classroom planetariums, satellites and oceanography, hands-on astronomy, and global warming.
You might also be interested in:
What types of instructional experiences help K-8 students learn science with understanding? What do science educators teachers, teacher leaders, science specialists, professional development staff, curriculum designers, school administrators need to know to create and support such experiences?
...more
What's in a Name: Combination of the Greek letter alpha and the name of the constellation. Claim to Fame: Marks the foot of the Southern Cross. Type of Star: Blue-white Subgiant How Far Away: 200 light
...more
Something new and exciting is happening at Windows to the Universe! Windows scientists say they discovered twelve new stars, including one that is the second brightest in the night sky! They decided to
...more
Bootes, the herdsman, rides through the sky during the late Spring and early Summer. While he may have appeared as a shepherd to the ancients, modern star-gazers like us can easily recognize the shape
...more
Hydra is the longest constellation in the sky and is also the largest in terms of area. It is so long that it takes more than six hours to rise completely. Along its northern side, we can observe the zodiacal
...more
The constellation Leo is known as the Lion. Leo's head and mane make up an upside-down question mark called the Sickle. One of the brightest spring stars, Regulus (Latin for "little king"), is at the base
...more
What's in a Name: Star designated 40 in the constellation Eridanus. Claim to Fame: One of the first white dwarfs found. A white dwarf is the exposed extremely hot core of a star that has blown off its
...more
What's in a Name: Double Star designated 61 in Cygnus the Swan Claim to Fame: Some of the closest stars to the sun(13th closest). Moving very rapidly through space as seen from Earth at a rate of ~45,
...more
