How far south does one need to be to view the Southern Cross?? I am getting conflicting answers.....Some say you need to be in the southern hemi and i also heard you can see it from portions of the U.S..

Depends how much of it you want to see. It's declination co-ordinates range from 56° to 65° from the equator (not sure what it's called), so if you were on a latitude of 56° to 65° S of the equator you would see the constellation ride over your head. 90 - 56 = 34°; that is the latitude at which anything further north would see NONE of Crux at any time during the year.

You would probably need to be around 10° to 20° closer to the equator to really see any of it, and you would only be able to view it at certain times of the year/night, and even then it would be very low down on the horizon.

If you really want to have a good look at it, come to Australia.

with regards

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You can barely see all of it from the latitudes of Miami, FL, and Brownsville, TX, both a bit less than 26 deg north. My latitude is about 33.5 deg north. Although none of the Southern Cross is ever visible at my latitude now, 2000 years ago the entire figure would have easily cleared the horizon. The northernmost star (Gamma Crucis) was at least theoretically visible at my latitude as recently as 1950.

And you can see it from Hawaii. Which is part of the US. :P

Here you go, so you don't hve to leave the comfort of your living room.



I took this a few months back with my digital camera.

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Thanks everyone...my question has been answered.....it appears to be pretty small..is it easily identifiable?

I could have posted this larger version



Three of the stars themselves are amongst the brightest in the southern hemishpere so they are very easy to see, even just after sunset or in a city.

[edited to add]It is also near the ribbon of Milky Way that crosses the sky which helps if you know what to look for, that and the pointers aimed at it. I have heard non-astro types claim they can't find it though. I usually roll my eyes because my mother can locate it in about 30 secs or less and she really only knows what I show her. I'd imagine that astronomers could locate it in secnds, just as I did the Big Dipper and Polaris while I was in the States.

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It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. --- JayUtah

You can't reason an irrational person out of an irrational belief. --- Noclevername

Apollo: The History and the Hoax
Enter the World of Athran

Depending on how far south you travel, (a little bit further south than where I live) Crux becomes circumpolar, so you can see it at anytime of the year. It's very easy to identify, and it has the 2 pointers (alpha and beta centauri, the 3rd and 11th brightest stars in the sky) pointing right at it.....you wouldn't miss the southern cross.

with regards

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Crux is the smallest constellation in the sky. Believe me though...It is extremely distinctive - Not far away in the sky is a piece of Carina known locally as the false Cross.

Under a very dark sky - a dark nebula...The coal sack seems to punch a hole right through the Milky Way. Once you see it....you always recognise it again. If memory serves, It has no star below mag 2 in it - so very small, but very bright.

Glen

Here is another view, taken in New Zealand

And a nice view with my camera attached to the side of a scope at Mt John.

That second picture shows more stars (duh) than what you will normally see. It is very easy to pick out, and as MG1962A mentioned, there is a 'false cross' nearby that (although slightly fainter and looking a little bit more squashed) is interesting to compare to Crux.

with regards

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If it ever stops raining I might see if I can take an photo of the false cross to compare, of course that's a big if, lol

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Howling from the Shadows

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Apollo: The History and the Hoax
Enter the World of Athran

Fine here in Brissy atm.

with regards

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As I recall, that was about a 30 minute exposure on Ektachrome. It also shows alpha and beta Cen, eta Car, and the Coal Sack nicely.

It is interesting see the photo - to the naked eye, the coal sack is a lot more distinct.

Was reading an old book on Crux - if you do get to have a look at it - there are a couple of absolute show stopper sights

NGC 4755 - The Jewel Box

Alpha Crux..gorgeous triple system...depending on the size might have to give the scope a kick to split the tight pair

Beta Crux...In the same field is the most amazing carbon star I know. Just like a tiny ember....Books say this isn't the reddest star in the sky, but I think it is accentuated by Beta's brilliant white glow

MG