|
|
|
|
Crux
|
| |
|
| |
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism and is commonly known as the Southern Cross because it is today visible only from the southern hemisphere, although it was visible near the horizon in the northern hemisphere during the time of the Ancient Greeks. Crux is bordered by the constellations Centaurus, which surrounds it on three sides, and Musca.
rary to popular belief, Crux is not opposite to Ursa Major.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Crux' Start a new discussion about 'Crux' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism and is commonly known as the Southern Cross because it is today visible only from the southern hemisphere, although it was visible near the horizon in the northern hemisphere during the time of the Ancient Greeks. Crux is bordered by the constellations Centaurus, which surrounds it on three sides, and Musca.
Location and identification
Contrary to popular belief, Crux is not opposite to Ursa Major. In fact, in tropical regions both Crux (low in the south) and Ursa Major (low in the north) can be seen in the sky from April to June. Crux is exactly opposite to Cassiopeia on the celestial sphere, and therefore it cannot be in the sky with the latter at the same time. For locations south of 34°S, Crux is circumpolar and thus always visible in the night sky.
Crux is sometimes confused with the nearby False Cross by stargazers. Crux is somewhat kite-shaped, and it has a fifth star (e Crucis). Crux may also resemble the shape of an inverted U.S. space shuttle, as if flying upside down through the sky. The False Cross is diamond-shaped, somewhat dimmer on average, does not have a fifth star and lacks two "Pointer Stars".
Notable features
Stars
Three of the five main Crux stars—–Acrux, Mimosa, and Delta Crucis—–are co-moving B-type members of the Scorpius-Centaurus Association, the nearest OB association to the Sun. They are among the highest-mass stellar members of the Lower Centaurus-Crux subgroup of the association, with ages of roughly 10 to 20 million years.
Markers
Since the southern sky lacks an easily visible pole star, Alpha and Gamma (known as Acrux and Gacrux respectively) are commonly used to mark south. Following the line defined by the two stars for approximately 4.5 times the distance between them leads to a point close to the Southern Celestial Pole.
Alternatively, if a line is constructed perpendicularly between Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri, the point where the above line and this line intersect marks the Southern Celestial Pole. The two stars are often referred to as the "Pointer Stars" or "White Pointers", allowing people to easily find the top of Crux.
Named stars
- a is named Acrux, a concatenation of "Alpha" and "Crux"
- ß is named Becrux a concatenation of "Beta" and "Crux" and is also named after the Mimosa plant
- ? is named Gacrux, a concatenation of "Gamma" and "Crux"
Deep sky objects
The Coalsack Nebula is the most prominent dark nebula in the skies, easily visible to the naked eye as a big dark patch in the southern Milky Way.
Another deep sky object within Crux is the Open Cluster NGC 4755, better known as the Jewel Box or Kappa Crucis Cluster, that was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751-1752. It lies at a distance of about 7,500 light years and consists of approximately 100 stars spread across an area of about 20 light-years square.
History
Crux was visible to the Ancient Greeks, who regarded it as part of the constellation Centaurus. At the latitude of Athens in 1000 BC, Crux was clearly visible, though low in the sky. However, the precession of the equinoxes gradually lowered its stars below the European horizon, and they were eventually forgotten by the inhabitants of northern latitudes. By AD 400, most of the constellation never rose above the horizon for Athenians.
Crux was rediscovered by Europeans during the Age of Discovery. Amerigo Vespucci mapped Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri as well as the stars of modern Crux on his expedition to South America in 1501.
The separation of Crux from Centaurus is generally attributed to the French astronomer Augustin Royer in 1679. Other historians attribute the invention of Crux to Petrus Plancius in 1613, noting that the constellation was later published by Jakob Bartsch in 1624.
Cultural significance
As a highly distinctive asterism, Crux has great significance in the cultures of the southern hemisphere.
In Australian Aboriginal astronomy, Crux and the Coalsack, mark the head of the 'Emu in the Sky' in several Aboriginal cultures, while Crux itself is said to be a possum sitting in a tree.
A stone image of the constellation has been found at the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, Peru. In Mapudungun, the language of Patagonian Mapuches, the name of Crux is Melipal, which means "four stars". In Quechua, the language of the Inca civilization, Crux is known as "Chakana", which means literally "stair" (chaka, bridge, link; hanan, high, above), but carries a deep symbolism within Quechua mysticism..
The Maori name for Crux is "Te Punga" - "the anchor". It is thought of as the anchor of Tama-rereti's waka (the Milky Way), where the Pointers are its rope. In Tonga it is known as Toloa — duck; it is a duck flying over, heading south, and one of his wings (d) is wounded because Ongo tangata — 2 men — a and ? Centauri threw a stone at it. The Coalsack is known as Humu — triggerfish, because of its shape.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, it is known as Buruj Pari (The Stingray). In ancient Hindu astrology, the modern Crux is referred to as "Trishanku".
Among Tuaregs, the 4 most visible stars of Crux are considered iggaren, i.e. four Maerua crassifolia trees.
Flags and symbols that incorporate Crux
Beginning in the colonial age, Crux became used as a national symbol by several southern nations. The brightest stars of Crux appear on the flags of Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa. They also appear on the Australian States and Territories of Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, as well as the flag of Magallanes Region of Chile, and several Argentine provincial flags and emblems (e.g., Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz). The flag of the Mercosur trading zone displays the four brightest stars. Crux also appears on the Brazilian coat of arms.
In 1893, Australian poet Banjo Paterson wrote: The English flag may flutter and wave,
where the world wide oceans toss,
but the flag the Australian dies to save,
is the flag of the Southern Cross.
The five stars are also in the logo of an Brazilian soccer team called Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. A stylized version of Crux appears on the Eureka Flag. The constellation was also used on the dark blue, shield-like patch worn by personnel of the U.S. Army's Americal Division, which was organized in the Southern Hemisphere, on the island of New Caledonia, and also the blue diamond of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, which fought on the Southern Hemisphere islands of Guadalcanal and New Britain.
External links
- ("the first description and illustration of the Southern Cross, with speculations about Australia ...") digitised by the National Library of Australia.
- .
- The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations, Michael E. Bakich, Cambridge University Press, 1995, pg. 85.
- Universe: The Definitive Visual Dictionary, Robert Dinwiddie et al, DK Adult Publishing, (2005), pg. 396.
- Black Sabbath
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
- Starry Night Photography.
-
-
- in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
|
| |
|
|
