Crux constellation
Crux is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Acrux. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): not visible — too far south in the sky.
- —not visible at 52° N
- Acruxbrightest star, magnitude 0.8
- CruCrux
How to find the constellation Crux
The constellation Crux can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N). At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 32° N.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | not visible — too far south in the sky |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | not visible — too far south in the sky |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | not visible — too far south in the sky |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acruxα¹ Crux | 0.8 | blue | — |
| Mimosaβ Crux | 1.3 | blue | — |
| Gacruxγ Crux | 1.6 | red | — |
| Imaiδ Crux | 2.8 | blue | — |
| Ginanε Crux | 3.6 | orange | — |
| μ¹ Crux | 4.0 | blue | — |
| ζ Crux | 4.1 | blue | — |
| η Crux | 4.1 | white | — |
| θ¹ Crux | 4.3 | white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Crux in the sky?
The constellation Crux can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N). At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 32° N.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Crux?
The constellation Crux can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N) at any time of year. At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 32° N.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Crux?
Acrux: magnitude 0.8, blue.
How many stars are there in the constellation Crux?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 32 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.