Grus constellation
Grus (the Crane) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in October. Its brightest star is Alnair (magnitude 1.74). Grus covers 366 square degrees and is the 45th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Grus
Facts
| Latin name | Grus (genitive: Gruis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Gru |
| Meaning | the Crane |
| Area | 366 square degrees (45th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 22.5 h, declination −46° |
| Visible from | latitudes 34° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | October (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Alnair |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 39 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 3 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Indus, Microscopium, Phoenix, Piscis Austrinus, Sculptor, Tucana |
How to find Grus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in October evenings: at about 9 pm Grus stands highest, around 4° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the south, about 79° above the horizon. The months before and after (September and November) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Grus borders Indus, Microscopium, Phoenix, Piscis Austrinus, Sculptor and Tucana.
Stars of Grus
Grus has 39 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alnair | α Gruis | 1.74 | B7IV | 101 ly |
| Tiaki | β Gruis | 2.1 | M5III | — |
| Aldhanab | γ Gruis | 3.01 | B8III | 183 ly |
| — | ε Gruis | 3.49 | A3V | — |
| — | ι Gruis | 3.9 | K1III | — |
| — | δ1 Gruis | 3.97 | G6-8III | — |
| — | δ2 Gruis | 4.11 | M4.5IIIa | — |
| — | ζ Gruis | 4.12 | G8-K0III | — |
| — | θ Gruis | 4.28 | F5mDel Del | — |
| — | λ Gruis | 4.46 | K3III | — |
Printable Grus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Grus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Grus is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Grus
What is the brightest star in Grus?
Alnair, at magnitude 1.74, about 101 light-years away.
When can you see Grus?
Grus is best seen in the evening in October. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 34° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Grus?
39 stars in Grus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 3 of them have official IAU names.
What does Grus mean?
Grus means “the Crane” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Gru and the genitive, used in star names such as α Gruis, is Gruis.
