Acrux

Acrux (α1 Crucis) is a blue-white subgiant star in the constellation Crux. With an apparent magnitude of 0.76 it is the 12th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 320 light-years from Earth.

Finder chart showing where Acrux is in the constellation Crux
Acrux (circled) in Crux, with the surrounding constellations and bright stars.
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Facts

ConstellationCrux
Designationα1 Crucis (Alpha Crucis), HR 4730
Apparent magnitude0.76 (12th brightest)
Spectral typeB0.5IV
Colorblue-white (B−V -0.24)
Distanceabout 320 light-years
Right ascension12 h 26.6 min
Declination−63.10°
Best monthMay (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Acrux

Acrux is in Crux. It never rises from 40° N. From 35° S it never sets. Nearby bright stars: Mimosa (4° away), Gacrux (6° away) and Hadar (12° away).

Crux constellation →

Other named stars in Crux

MimosaGacruxImaiGinan

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