southern cross

The Southern Cross is a constellation in the southern sky, known scientifically as Crux. It is centered on four bright stars forming a cross- shaped asterism that is easily recognizable and holds great cultural significance in many Southern Hemisphere countries such as Australia, Brazil, Chile, and New Zealand. The constellation lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band and is the smallest of 88 modern constellations but among the most distinctive due to its bright stars. The primary stars of the Southern Cross are Alpha Crucis (Acrux), Beta Crucis (Mimosa), Gamma Crucis (Gacrux), and Delta Crucis (Imai), with Epsilon Crucis (Ginan) also part of the group. The constellation is often used for navigation in the Southern Hemisphere as it helps locate the South Celestial Pole, similar to the use of Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Cross also features in the cultural and symbolic traditions of various indigenous peoples and nations, including the Mapuche and Inca civilizations, and it is represented on several national flags in the Southern Hemisphere. It is visible year-round from southern latitudes and even occasionally from tropical Northern Hemisphere locations at certain times of the year.