Southern Pointers

The Southern Pointers is an asterism, a star pattern that is not one of the 88 official constellations, made of two stars in Centaurus. Its brightest star is Rigil Kentaurus (magnitude −0.27), and it is best seen in the evening in June.

Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More

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<a href="https://constellationmap.org/asterisms/southern-pointers/"><img src="https://constellationmap.org/img/asterisms/southern-pointers-star-map.png" alt="Southern Pointers star map: the two stars Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar connected by lines and labeled, with the surrounding constellations" width="800" height="800" loading="lazy"></a>
<br><small><a href="https://constellationmap.org/asterisms/southern-pointers/">Southern Pointers</a> · Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a></small>

How to use it

The line from Alpha to Beta Centauri points to the Southern Cross; Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Sun.

How to find the Southern Pointers

It does not rise from 40° N. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it reaches about 64° in the south.

Stars of the Southern Pointers

Star	Designation	Magnitude	Distance	Constellation
Rigil Kentaurus	α1 Centauri	−0.27	4 ly	Centaurus
Hadar	β Centauri	0.61	390 ly	Centaurus

Questions about the Southern Pointers

Is the Southern Pointers a constellation?

No. The Southern Pointers is an asterism: its stars belong to the constellation Centaurus, one of the 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union.

What is the brightest star of the Southern Pointers?

Rigil Kentaurus, with an apparent magnitude of −0.27, about 4 light-years away.

When can I see the Southern Pointers?

It is highest in the evening sky in June.