The Constellation Crux, the Southern Cross
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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.
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