Table of Contents
- 1 Does the Southern Cross have 4 or 5 stars?
- 2 What are the two stars next to the Southern Cross?
- 3 Why does New Zealand flag only have 4 stars?
- 4 Why does Australia have 5 stars on its flag?
- 5 Are there more stars in the Southern Cross?
- 6 How big is the Southern Cross from north to South?
- 7 What are the objects associated with the Southern Cross?
Does the Southern Cross have 4 or 5 stars?
The Southern Cross is officially an asterism, a collection of stars that belongs to the constellation of Crux. The five stars that make up the Southern Cross – Alpha, Beta (also known as Mimosa), Delta, Gamma and Epsilon Crucis – are 10 to 20 million years old.
What are the two stars next to the Southern Cross?
Alpha and Beta Centauri are the brightest stars in the fairly large and sprawling constellation of Centaurus the Centaur. Both are near the famed Southern Cross (also called Crux), and are roughly 30 degrees from the south celestial pole.
How many stars does the Crux have?
Crux
| Constellation | |
|---|---|
| List of stars in Crux | |
| Main stars | 4 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 19 |
| Stars with planets | 2 |
Why does New Zealand flag only have 4 stars?
The fifth smaller star on the Australian Flag can be seen when looking at the Southern Cross and there was some debate in New Zealand as to whether the fifth star should be included on the New Zealand Flag. They decided just to use the four stars that mark the points of the compass.
Why does Australia have 5 stars on its flag?
Below the Union Jack is a white Commonwealth, or Federation, star. It has seven points representing the unity of the six states and the territories of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is a constellation of five stars that can only be seen from the southern hemisphere and is a reminder of Australia’s geography.
Why is the Southern Cross significant to Australia?
The Southern Cross has been a part of Australia’s First Nations cosmology for millennia. European voyagers in the late 15th century took it as a sign of divine blessing for their conquests. It was a symbol of rebellion after Eureka Stockade.
Are there more stars in the Southern Cross?
“You can sort of see many more stars than we know in the Southern Cross but what you have is some stars that seem to be in a cross like the Southern Cross we know,” says Dr Helman. Inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere, including the Incas of South America and indigenous Australians, have always been familiar with the Southern Cross.
How big is the Southern Cross from north to South?
The Southern Cross spans only six degrees from north to south, a distance only slightly bigger than the one between Merak and Dubhe, the pointer stars located in the Big Dipper, which point the way to Polaris, the North Star, located in Ursa Minor constellation.
Why is the Crux constellation called the Southern Cross?
Because of the rather distinctive asterism they form, these stars have been officially classified as the Crux constellation, or the Southern Cross.
What are the objects associated with the Southern Cross?
Deep sky objects associated with the Southern Cross are the Coalsack nebula and the fuzzy star-like open cluster NGC4755. Other than its wide application as a navigation aid, the Southern Cross has an outstanding cultural significance to nations localized to the southern hemisphere especially in New Zealand and Australia.