Constellation
Southern Cross
Look for a compact cross with one longer arm. These four stars form the main figure of Crux; other cross-like patterns can be misleading.
Preview: Barcelona · 12 Nov · 22:00. Change your location in Sky Timeline.
European cross interpretation · other traditions differ
A small cross with many meanings
European observers gave this compact figure its familiar cross name. Much older traditions interpret the stars differently: Tainui Māori see Te Punga, the anchor of a sky canoe, while Mapuche tradition sees the footprint of a rhea.
Four main stars form two crossing arms, with one arm longer than the other. The constellation’s Latin name, Crux, means cross.
People around the world have given these stars different figures and stories. This is one interpretation. Lines are recognition aids, rather than official constellation boundaries.
ESO · Stories behind the Southern Cross ↗Finding Southern Cross
Below the horizon at this time.
Use the bright reference stars below to recognise the shape. A complete drawing can extend outside the current camera window, even when its stars are above the horizon. Open its guide in Sky Timeline to compare the stars with an illustrated interpretation where available.
Bright reference stars
- Acrux
- Magnitude 1.3
- Gacrux
- Magnitude 1.6
Lower magnitude numbers mean brighter stars. Clouds, nearby lighting and moonlight change what your eyes can pick out.
Explore another night
Visibility changes with place, season and time. Move through the night to see the object rise, cross the sky and set, while weather remains a separate estimate.
Open this sky → · Calculations and limitations