CRUX AUSTRALIS
(Abbreviation: Cru).
Though Crux is the smallest constellation in the entire sky, it is also one of the most famous. Before Royer introduced it, in 1679, it had been included in Centaurus. Strictly speaking it is more like a kite then a cross. As well as brilliant stars it contains the glorious ‘Jewel Box’ cluster, and also the dark nebula known as the Coal Sack. There are five stars above the fourth magnitude. Of the four main stars, any casual glance will show the difference between g, a red giant, and the other three, which are hot and bluish-white
BRIGHTEST STARS
|
STAR |
R.A. |
DEC |
MAG. |
ABS.MAG. |
SPEC |
DIST.PC |
||||
|
H |
M |
S |
o |
‘ |
“ |
|||||
|
q¹ |
12 |
03 |
01.6 |
-63 |
18 |
46 |
4.33 |
-0.5 |
A0 |
17 |
|
q² |
12 |
04 |
19.2 |
-63 |
09 |
56 |
4.72 |
-3.0 |
B2 |
290 |
|
h |
12 |
06 |
52.8 |
-64 |
36 |
49 |
4.15 |
0.6 |
F0 |
33 |
|
d |
12 |
15 |
08.6 |
-58 |
44 |
55 |
2.80 |
-3.0 |
B2 |
79 |
|
z |
12 |
18 |
26.1 |
-64 |
00 |
11 |
4.04 |
-2.3 |
B3 |
150 |
|
e |
12 |
21 |
21.5 |
-60 |
24 |
04 |
3.59 |
0.0 |
K2 |
18 |
|
a |
12 |
26 |
35.9 |
-63 |
05 |
56 |
1.41 |
-3.9 |
B1 |
110
ACRUX |
|
12 |
26 |
36.5 |
-63 |
05 |
58 |
1.88 |
-3.4 |
B3 |
||
|
g |
12 |
31 |
09.9 |
-57 |
06 |
47 |
1.63 |
-0.5 |
M3 |
27 |
|
i |
12 |
45 |
37.8 |
-60 |
58 |
52 |
4.69 |
0.0 |
K1 |
87 |
|
b |
12 |
47 |
43.2 |
-59 |
41 |
19 |
1.25v |
-5.0 |
B0 |
130
(MIMOSA) |
|
m¹ |
12 |
54 |
35.6 |
-57 |
10 |
40 |
4.03 |
-2.3 |
B3 |
190 |
DOUBLES
|
STAR |
R.A. |
DEC |
MAGS. |
P.A. |
DIST.” |
||||
|
H |
M |
S |
o |
‘ |
“ |
||||
|
g |
12 |
31 |
09.9 |
-57 |
06 |
47 |
1.6, 6.7 |
032 |
110.6 OBTICAL PAIR |
|
a |
12 |
26 |
35.9 |
-63 |
05 |
56 |
1.4, 1.9 |
114 |
4.7 SPLENDID TRIO |
|
i |
12 |
45 |
37.8 |
-60 |
58 |
52 |
4.7, 7.8 |
027 |
26.4 |
|
m¹ |
12 |
54 |
35.6 |
-57 |
10 |
40 |
4.0, 5.2 |
017 |
34.9 VERY WIDE AND EASY |
VARIABLES
|
STAR |
R.A. |
DEC |
RANGE |
PERIOD,D |
SPEC |
TYPE |
||
|
H |
M |
o |
‘ |
|||||
|
T |
12 |
18.6 |
-62 |
00 |
7.0 – 7.7 |
6.7 |
G |
CEPHEID |
|
R |
12 |
20.9 |
-61 |
21 |
6.9 – 8.0 |
5.8 |
G |
CEPHEID |
|
S |
12 |
51.4 |
-58 |
10 |
6.6 – 7.7 |
4.7 |
G |
CEPHEID |
CLUSTERS AND
NEBULÆ
|
OBJECT |
R.A. |
DEC |
TYPE |
NOTES |
||
|
H |
M |
o |
‘ |
|||
|
NGC
4052 |
12 |
00.6 |
-62 |
54 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
MAG.
9. ABOUT 50 STARS |
|
NGC
4337 |
12 |
21.2 |
-57 |
50 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
MAG.10.
FAIRLY RICE |
|
NGC
4349 |
12 |
21.4 |
-61 |
37 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
MAG.
8 RICH; OVER 100 STARS |
|
NGC
4463 |
12 |
27.1 |
-64 |
30 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
MAG.
8.5. OVER 20 STARS |
|
NGC
4609 |
12 |
39.4 |
-62 |
42 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
MAG.
10. OVER 20 STARS |
|
NGC
4755▲301 |
12 |
50.7 |
-60 |
05 |
OPEN
CLUSTER |
k CRUCIS-THE ‘JEWEL BOX’ |