Grus constellation
Grus is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Alnair. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.
- Autumnbest seen
- Alnairbrightest star, magnitude 1.7
- GruGrus
How to find the constellation Grus
Use its brightest star as a guide: Alnair (magnitude 1.7). In September around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | not visible — too far south in the sky |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnairα Gruis | 1.7 | bluish white | — |
| Tiakiβ Gruis | 2.1 | red | — |
| Aldhanabγ Gruis | 3.0 | bluish white | — |
| ε Gruis | 3.5 | bluish white | — |
| ι Gruis | 3.9 | orange | — |
| δ¹ Gruis | 4.0 | orange | — |
| ζ Gruis | 4.1 | orange | — |
| δ² Gruis | 4.1 | orange | — |
| θ Gruis | 4.3 | white | — |
| λ Gruis | 4.5 | orange | — |
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 Grus in the sky?
Use its brightest star as a guide: Alnair (magnitude 1.7). In September around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Grus?
In autumn: in September around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Grus?
Alnair: magnitude 1.7, bluish white.
How many stars are there in the constellation Grus?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 39 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.