#Gacrux

[peri-universals-universe]

Some art for aro week

This is focused on aroace characters because I don't have enough aroallos. So I say a picture of an aroace rainbow and that made me realize that the aroace flag looks exactly like the colors of a blackbody at increasing temperatures. Each character is a star oc and there is one for each of the seven main spectral (color and temperature) types of stars.

And here's a version without the color overlay

[avatarkadaj-fr]

everyone who has gotten starfall skins & accents :3 there were some PEAK designs this month!

Muse - celestial fey

Gacrux - starlight flutter

Tsukimi & Midnight Zone - lunar debris

Boomslang & Halfmoon - explore the expanse

Cynder - starwood sky

Wildflower - arcane plumage

Fujinosuke - cosmic vapors

[at-liberty-news]

Galactic War Status: Day 40

Hello, viewers. Today's another short one for you.

The gambit to defend Pöpli IX by cutting off its supply routes from Mort was a success, once again securing all planets in the sector. Unfortunately, the bots are now making much use of Vandelon IV as a staging ground, having launched yet another attack already.

This time, the robots are threatening Mantes, a planet that had gained a reputation back when the Helldivers were facing off with the original Automaton Vanguard fleet. Being one of the primary battlegrounds of that era of the conflict, it seemed to change hands almost every day. Looking to avoid repeating that mistake, the Helldivers have descended with great fury upon the initial invasion force. Their efforts have been wildly successful so far, and the planet is already nearly cleansed of the robot's influence. At this rate, the major order is in the bag.

Back with the Terminids; things are only getting worse. As the Helldivers leave their advance unchecked, they have now nearly completely infested the Jin Xi sector, with Phact Bay the most recent planet to fall under their shadow. Although efforts are underway to protect the planet, it's looking rather grim. In the meantime, many Helldivers continue to hammer the jungled surface of Gacrux in hopes of retaking it but have only managed to fight to a standstill. Let's hope things pick up soon.

That's all we have prepared for now; we'll see you next time.

Give 'em Hell, Divers!

[cosmicfocus]

Southern Cross

Crux Constellation Crux is the smallest of the eighty-eight constellations but is an iconic southern constellation. It lies in the Milky Way and extends only a very short distance outside my cropped wide angle image of the Southern Cross. The four brightest stars form the ends of the two imaginary cross pieces. They are (clockwise and in brightness order): Alpha (Acrux), Beta (Mimosa), Gamma…

[hoseokslefteyebrow]

The Anomaly || JJK

Chapter 21: Southern Cross

summary : In which you're isekai'd from your (own) parallel Jujutsu Kaisen universe to the canon universe.

wordcount : 1.4k

Pairing: Jujutsu Kaisen X Reader, your Sukuna X Reader, Megumi X reader

Masterlist | Next

Manga spoilers: chapters 156/157

Acrux?

Megumi studies the star shaped mark on his bunny shikigami, evidently confused.

He glances at the door.

Gacrux?

" Watch out!" 

Megumi glances up just in time to see you getting launched at him. His eyes widen, arms opening up just in time to properly catch you. Immediately, his eyes are drawn to your hand.

Also Acrux.

" Sorry-"

" No, I don't think this was a coincidence. Stay close to me."

You blink at him, before blinking at the mark on your hand.

At once, he releases rabbit escape which he had previously summoned.

" Panda! What do you think of my rabbit escape?"

Megumi takes a step closer as he calls out to your older classmate, automatically pulling you with him for some reason. He glances at you shortly, wrapping an arm around your waist to keep your side pressed to his. You blink, not exactly catching onto what's happening just yet.

" It was sooo cute! Second only to me!"

Annoyance takes over Megumi's features.

" I'm asking about what they could and couldn't get closer to!"

" Oh. They were able to approach me and the second floor!, But couldn't get to Kirara or the door to the monitoring room!"

" Is there a star mark and a name somewhere on your body?"

" Eh?!" 

Indeed, on Panda's butt, was another star with a name.

" Imai? It says Imai!"

Panda calls as he reads his mark.

Megumi searched himself for a good second too, raising his shirt go reveal a very toned stomach and another star with a name. Acrux, just like you.

Your eyes widen in realization.

" It must be based on a constellation. "

Megumi nods.

" Panda! This cursed technique is based on a constellation! This one is based on 'The Southern Cross'."

Based on Kirara's face, Megumi must be correct.

" Megumii, Y/NN! I don't understand!"

" Panda, the southern cross has 4 stars, right?"

" Well, yeah, since it's a cross."

" I initially thought that Kirara's technique assigned a star from the southern cross to each target, and forces them to stay at a certain distance from each other. But Kirara is able to approach the door, Y/N is glued to me, and we're able to approach each other. Which is why I think that this is more like a board game that decides a route. And that each star has an order to which they can approach each other. And the same stars can stick together."

" Shouldn't the user be unaffected by their cursed technique?"

You shrug

" Usually, yeah. But Kirara was also forced to stay away from devine dog."

" Maybe it just makes our stars repel the stars of Kirara and the door."

" If that's the case, then why hasn't Kirara run into the monitoring room?"

" Oh, right- It's game over for us if she sticks to the door from the inside."

" For now, Kirara is on guard to make sure we don't break whatever condition it is that would allow us to break into the monitor room unnoticed by her."

Your eyes widen.

" Doesn't that mean that there's at least 5 stars?"

Megumi nods.

" What if there's a sixth or a seventh? "

" Let's just hope that's not the case."

The conversation is cut short as Kirara joins the scene, somewhere seemingly having found a car and plowing it straight at the three of you.

" Panda!"

" I've got it!-"

" Don't throw it! It's marked with the same star as the one on your body. -"

" -If you throw it it'll either come back to you or you'll be pulled to it!"

" Megumi, over there!" 

At one of the random ledges of the roof, is indeed a different star. The one you were looking for.

Everything seems to happen at once. The two of you head to the star, Kirara sends a bunch of stuff at you, and while Megumi reaches the 5th star of her technique, you manage to wrap a steady stream of water around Kirara, and pull yourself towards her.

Megumi suppresses his cursed energy by a level for a moment, getting him pulled towards you this time, and wrapping Kirara in a headlock.

Finally, Kirara is on the floor, Megumi holding her arm behind her back.

" Listen to what we have to say."

Kirara looks rather annoyed that Megumi's plan had worked.

" Did you really plan this all out? Surely you didn't know that I cannot mark water with my technique. Or that you would be pulled towards her."

" Originally, it was by chance. But I realized that the one with lesser cursed energy gets pulled towards the one with more cursed energy."

Kirara's eyes widen, before she grumbles.

" I can't believe you're a first year. You're not so cute."

Finally, Megumi lets her go, opting for another approach. He bows respectfully, all the way to the ground.

" Please, listen to what we have to say."

Kirara glances over him and you, before sighing.

" Fine.-"

In that exact second, Yuuji is launched through the door you guys were stalling, Sukuna followed soon after. 

Hakari looks angry as he follows them out.

" Megumi, Panda, Y/N, you guys stay out of this. Su- Woozi, leave this to me."

Sukuna scoffs in annoyance, but steps back.

 Hakari grins.

" You're underestimating me."

And then he throws a punch straight at Yuuji. Everyone's eyes widen. Sukuna's do too, before they narrow.

" Yuuji-"

" The fuck are you doing?-"

Hakari visibly gains interest as he shoves Yuuji, only for him to remain standing.

He raises a brow.

" Interesting. I'll listen to what you have to say... For as long as you remain standing."

Kirara leans over the railway where you're all stood.

" Kin, these kids want your help! Listen to what they have to say!" 

Hakari huffs.

" I just said I'll listen."

Kirara blinks.

" Oh. Then it's all good.. I guess..?"

" Hey Itadori, why me? This is the first time we've met, is it not?"

" Because my upperclassman said you're strong-"

" That's what I thought."

Hakari launches a punch in Yuuji's face as he speaks.

" When a sorcerer asks for help, it's basically asking 'please risk your life with me'! You need to convey a fever worthy of making me risk my life. Right here, right now! But instead of that, you came here because you were told to?! What the hell is old Yaga doing?! He's supposed to weed out wusses like you!"

" I don't have a fever.-"

" Huh?"

"-I'm a cog. A cog, for sorcerers to continue exorcising curses."

" Hey, hey, hey, you serious? That's so boring!"

Hakari pulls his fist back, and Megumi's eyes widen.

" Yuuji! That's enough!"

The punch never arrives. A steady stream of water is clasped around his wrist. You jump over the railing, approaching Hakari, your eyes narrowed in a sharp glare.

" Who the hell are you? And what the hell is this technique?!" 

Hakari is evidently taken by surprise as he struggling against the steady stream of water.

" My name is Kamo Y/N. This is pointless. If you're afraid to fight for real, pretend this stupid club is worth your time, then so be it.-"

You bend the water back in your water skin.

" If you're looking for a real fight however, come with us. You have nothing better to do anyway." 

You cross your arms over one another, glaring at him. Yuuji's eyes widen.

" Y/N.-"

" Yuuji, shut up."

Sukuna walks over, grinning as he slings an arm around your shoulder.

Hakari grins, scoffing.

" You have guts.-"

He glances up to where Megumi, Panda and Kirara are stood.

" Come down. We can make a deal."

Megumi's eyes widen, as does Panda's. 

" Did she just...?"

" Uhm, yeah..? The problem's solved...? We convinced him...? "

Kirara hums at Megumi's puzzled words.

" Yep."

" Thank you?"

" No problem. Kinji doesn't like the higher ups. But his-"

She nods at you, under Sukuna's arm.

" -girl really got his fever going."

Megumi coughs.

His girl. Sukuna's girl. As if. Tch.

" She's not his girl. They're just friends."

Kirara raises an interested brow at Megumi.

" Your girl?"

Megumi blushes, not answering her as he jumps over the railing.

[ A/N: This was all so confusing in the manga holy shat-. Also, happy new year : ]

The Anomaly Taglist:

@luxylucylou @kalulakunundrum @strxbxrrylover @aethersslave @jenniferrvsesi @hanatsuki-hime @betizda @sh0uk1 @nymphsdomain @suppeepsandweebs @sweetchimpeaches

[annymation]

1.) It would be so wholesome if the other wishing stars in the sky are happy to see and watch Aster living his happiest as a human. They are still his family no matter what, right?

Aster could be dancing, singing, making new friends, discovering new things, start a family and they all couldn’t help but shine brighter to see him happier than they’ve ever seen him in the sky.

And Aster doesn’t forget them back either. As much as he could, he sits by the wishing tree and talks to them about LITERALLY everything. Even if he couldn’t hear them talk back to him anymore, it doesn’t matter.

He and Asha love to stargaze as Aster keeps sharing everything in his excited state to the other stars above. Meanwhile, Asha just listens and watches him fondly, adding in some details to his stories every now and then. And it almost seems like they answer back through their twinkling in the sky.

(Bonus points if they continue to do this with their future daughter, Evangeline. The little kid’s eyes would be sparkling brighter than the galaxy in awe)

I’d be happy to see this as a short writing prompt if you want to use this idea! 💖💖

2.) Another headcanon I like to have is that the songs “When you wish upon a Star” and “A Wish worth Making” becomes Evangeline’s lullabies.

It’s like Asha is passing on the songs of her father’s and Sabino’s X333

YEEEESSS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR VIBES SO WELL!!!

I'll write a little scene with them and little Evangeline star gazing, and Aster telling her about the stars

Asha and Aster are laying down on the grass with little 5 year old Evangeline between them, Aster is pointing up to them

"And that one is the southern cross constellation, see those 4? They're called Gacrux, Crusis, Acrux and Mimosa, we were close friends actually, they were some of the few stars that understood my fascination with earth, they even placed themselves in that formation to help people find their way" He explains

"Find their way how?" Evangeline asks curious

"They're like a compass" Asha says "They show where's North, West, East and South, helping people know where to go" Evangeline looks up in awe and Asha hugs her closer "So whenever you're lost dear, just remember, you just have to look up at the stars to guide you."

Aster has a cheeky smile as he sing songs "And throw caution to every warning sign?"

Asha looks at her husband confused "What?"

"... Is that not how the lyrics goes?" He asks genuinely

"Heheh no cariño, it was "For I know they can send me a sign", what you said didn't even make sense hahah" Asha laughs, Evangeline is distracted still admiring the stars while her parents talk

"Well it has been years since I've last heard that song heheh"

End scene :3

2) Headcanon approved, and may I add "At All Cost" to the list.

[santoschristos]

Full Moon 23 April 2024 ~ Resurrection

The Full Moon 23 April 2024 falls at 4º Scorpio Decan 1.

Type: Pink Moon

Aspect: Square Pluto.

Fixed Star: Gacrux in the Southern Cross.

Asteroid: Hebe Tarot Card: 5 Of Swords.

Healing Crystal: Rhodonite

full Moon in Scorpio decan 1

The Moon has the precise degree of its fall in this decan (3º Scorpio), which is supposed to make it extremely unfortunate. We are only one degree away from it! This position is the devouring Moon, the goddess Kali and the vagina dentata (yes, a lady’s part with teeth!). The Moon is desperately famished here and can also be sexually insatiable. Therefore, the collective either becomes ruthless and Plutonic with their hunger or they fear starvation. Those who learn to understand nature’s sometimes cruel cycles of death and rebirth will be less inclined to act in a ‘kill or be killed’ mode. Evolved folk have faith in the power of resurrection! --Darkstar Astrology

[talonabraxas]

The Full Moon May 2024 falls at 2º Sagittarius Decan 1. Type: Flower Moon. Aspect: Sextile Pluto. Fixed Star: Gacrux in the Southern Cross. Asteroid: Lilith. Tarot Card: 8 Of Wands. Healing Crystal: Red Calcite

Black Moon Lilith Talon Abraxas

Lilith, the Triple Goddess of Astrology Asteroid Lilith Black Moon Lilith Dark Moon Lilith

These three Liliths are all connected and are said to open a portal to her energy. They are also said to represent the triple goddess, an understanding into the light, dark, and balance of femininity. The three Lilith’s can also be seen as a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

The Birth: Lilith the Asteroid

Lilith is the name given to the physical Asteroid 1181, which was discovered back in the 1920’s. This asteroid is nestled between Mars and Jupiter.

This is Lilith on the surface. This is Lilith as Adam’s wife before she undergoes her transformation and finds herself as the mother of demons.

She has been considered a strong and suitable candidate for Adam. Can you imagine how many women wanted that role? And how powerful or special he would have been considered?

She is chosen as his wife and she wants to do it well. She wants to be the wife that everyone’s told her to be, but there is a power that is far greater inside of her. A power and independence that is longing to be honored and noted, which is why Adam asking her to be subservient eventually leads her to stand up to him and say a firm no.

And it’s this decision that starts her “death” process where she flees and finds herself in the company of demons. She is deep in the shadow work now and there is no turning back.

The Death: Black Moon Lilith

Black Moon Lilith is the most commonly used “Lilith” in astrology. This is not a physical object in the sky but instead a mathematical point between the Earth and the Moon. It is actually the point that measures the distance when the Earth is furthest from the Moon during its orbit.

In other words, Black Moon Lilith is like this void, this space between the planet we live on and the Moon that affects our tides and the oceans within us.

There are actually two ways to calculate Black Moon Lilith, but I’ll leave that alone for the time being.

Black Moon Lilith signifies our deeper, darker emotions. If Pluto is Lord of the Underworld, Black Moon Lilith can be seen as Goddess of the Underworld.

If we think of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Black Moon Lilith is the fire. It’s whatever burns us while we undergo our rebirth and there is something about Black Moon Lilith’s fire that can only be tamed once it has had the freedom to rage.

Black Moon Lilith represents our rage, our triggers, the things that get us heated and motivated to act.

Black Moon Lilith is the part of us that rages with the demons, even though we know it may be considered “wrong” or not socially correct.

We do it not just to be “bad” but because there is something inside of us that wants to challenge the norm, that wants to push the boundaries, that wants to see just how far we can go.

Black Moon Lilith is like the destructible, self-sabotaging, thrill-seeking, midlife crisis in all of us. It’s the stuff that can consume us on the inside unless we stand up and face it. It’s the contents of the fire that burns us so we can rise up again reborn.

The Rebirth: Dark Moon Lilith

It was once recorded that Earth had two Moons. This second Moon was called Dark Moon Lilith or sometimes just the Black Moon. The presence of this second Moon was debunked and chalked up to nothing more than a band of cloud and dust that was mistaken for a Moon.

While it remains a scientific fact that Earth only has one Moon, there are many who feel that this Dark Moon is perhaps Lilith in her final rebirth and she will emerge when the world is ready for her.

Some also believe that Dark Moon Lilith is a Moon from another dimension, and others believe that it is perhaps the remains of a former planet that is now no longer. Either way, the legend of Dark Moon Lilith still lives on.

[quiltofstars]

The southern constellation of Crux, "the cross" // Matt Hughes

The four stars that make up the points of the cross are:

Acrux (α Crucis) at the southern point. It is the 13th brightest star in the night sky and is a sextuple star system. Its name is an Americanism of "Alpha Crucis" created in the 20th century.

Mimosa (β Crucis) at the left point. It is a binary star system. Its name comes from the Latin word for "actor", the same word for the flower of the same name.

Gacrux (γ Crucis) at the northern point. It is the 26th brightest star in the sky, and is a single red giant. Its name is not another modern invention, but seems to be invented by astronomer Elijah Burritt in the early 1800s.

Imai (δ Crucis) at the right point. It is a solitary blue giant. Its name comes from the Mursi people of Ethiopia. As this star sets in the evening sky at dusk in August, it is said that the Omo River rises high enough to flatten the imai grass that grows along its banks.

[shurikensgang]

[For the same group of people from the previous ask] [FOOTAGE FROM THE GACRUX CAMPAIGN CIRCA 2083-2084] *Footage showed the same soldiers from before at some sort of road. It appears to be from before the previous clip. The on the road are several armored vehicles with the words “HELLDIVER CORPS” written on their sides. The camera then pans to show an interviewer speaking with one of the soldiers.* ”How long has it been since you first joined the Helldiver Corps?”

“About 2 weeks. This is my first deployment.”

“Why did you join the Helldiver corps?”

“to make them *the soldier gestures to a nearby city* pay.”

*The footage changes. It shows the soldiers storming the city. Footage of tanks driving through the streets running over the things from before. Footage of gunships annihilating an enemy tank convoy defending the city. Footage of the soldiers storming buildings.*

They are still confused as to why they are seeing this.

[avatarkadaj-fr]

recent babies ive bought or hatched!

Gacrux is a dusthide off the AH - she is splash strike/periwinkle coil/ lavender dewlap

Chorus is another dusthide off the AH - he is lavender petrified/nightshade lode/crimson dewlap

Kyawwathcaim is a bogsneak i hatched from huntress & corrin. she is jade lionfish/ abyss butterfly/ cornflower glimmer

Dootlizh is a spiral sister to kyawwathcaim. she is pistachio lionfish/aqua shimmer/stonewash opal

Tsukimi is an undetide i found through the tumblr sales tag. She's robin boa/ aqua saddle/teal jellyfish

Cui is an imperial from the same lair as tsukimi. he is an xxx thicket flair/flaunt/opal!

[at-liberty-news]

Galactic War Status: Day 38

Congratulations are in order for the SEAF on their successful completion of the major order well within due time!

Nivel 43 was liberated first before Helldivers moved onto Fori Prime, finishing it only hours ago. Although they fought hard on Gacrux, it has fallen victim to Terminid infestation. Unfortunately, there's no time to take it back, as another major order has already been issued in a state of emergency!

The Automatons have launched several full-scale invasions into multiple planets to the west, seemingly trying to push towards the planets they originally held prior to the war. To what ends they seek to hold these planets is unclear, as we'd assumed they would have bee-lined straight for Super Earth by now. All we can do is wait and see as the story unfolds.

With Mort's defense in the Xzar sector having predictably failed during the hive-breaking operations, the bots are pushing further south into Ingmar while simultaneously moving onto Vandelon IV from Ustotu in the Trigon sector. The Federation currently only cares about holding onto the Xzar sector, which means Vandelon IV is destined for a bolted occupation.

In all the commotion, the Helldivers seem to have forgotten a vital strategy at their disposal: Gambits. With 20 hours on the clock, there are two ways to handle Ingmar and Mort. Either take them one by one by first defending Ingmar, then pushing onto Mort, or simply overwhelm Mort's defenses and secure the planet, cutting off the stream of new Automatons heading towards Ingmar at its source, effectively winning both planets for the work of one. Despite this, far too many are prioritizing fighting directly on Ingmar for the gambit to succeed at present, preferring to fight harder rather than smarter. Who knows what this might end up costing them?

While this is happening, the Terminid spores continue to be a problem, having already found their way from Gacrux onto Pandion-XXIV. Yet again, a planet lying outside of the major order's directive will be lost. We wish the best for those handling evacuation efforts in such helpless times!

Additionally, although not directly relevant to the war, after months of deliberation, the Federation has finally passed a bill that authorizes Class C citizens and above, such as Helldivers, to file pet fish requisition forms. They have stated this is a temporary measure but not clarified for how long it will last. We assume it is a morale-boosting measure and will be rescinded shortly after the war ends, if it ever does.

And that's the latest on the war! We'll see you next time, viewers.

[messinwitheddie]

1: Hey Hoola? ever thought of doing a pinup walkway with Cini? I think both will look fabulous in fashion!

2: Was there ever a tallest who went against the control brains? Like if it went SO bad that this tallest was forced to be deactivated on the spot?

3: How are things with Dib’s daughter and the little smeets she haves with her? Did they grow over the years? What do they look now?

4: Are the merkins still in existence? What are they up to now that Zim help bring their species back?

5: Whatever happen to that new Hitz?(The kept in Mem’s hive.) after the war with the control brains.

1. Hoola "Oh no. No no no no no no, not me."

Hoop "I would love to see it."

Hoola "Be silent."

Hoop "My tallest! I have a proposition for you! I think you'll be enticed!"

Hoola "NOOOOOOO"

2. As far as my au goes, none on record, but a few have come dangerously close.

3. I will have to update their designs; I haven't dedicated much attention to Wyn's smeets in a while.

Zim takes them to Mem's mystery planet when they're about 10 years old to live among their fellow Irkens. Unfortunately Uncle Sam starts poking his ass into Membrane Lab's business a little too much for comfort when the "Probing the Membrane of Science" reboot starts to become popular among international viewers, so to ensure their safety she allows them to move out.

Each display a mutation suppressed by the control brains; Polaris has the shiny/ iridescent skin mutation, Rigel has the 4 arm mutation, Yildun has the fuzzy mutation, Gacrux has the purple skin mutation, and Pollux has the natural wing mutation.

4. The merkins are thriving in earth's oceans (or they will be in the distant future, when Dib's distant grandson, Dro Membrane is alive and well.

Dro and many of his fellow colleagues and scores of good hearted volunteers dedicates large amounts of time, energy and resources into reviving earth's oceans, forests, rain forests, deserts and swamplands, despite the world leaders who spend all their time and energy sucking each other off and soaking up the tax dollars of us poopoo-peon average people from their cushy resorts on taraformed Mars (sorry, but somehow that's the future I predict for us.)

One of Dro's Merkin smeets, Chum, grew to be quite large, enormous in fact. Probably the largest Irken of all time (Irk's nitrogen seas were nowherenear as vast or deep as earth's h2o oceans. Chum swims in the deepest depths. His favorite meal is giant calamari. (Thank you @monsoonceroom for the merkin design ^^)

5. As for the rescued flesh vessel of Hitz, he was happily adopted by former tallest Purple, who continues to live in the hive on Mem's mystery planet.

Smeet Hitz is happy there. He imprinted on Purple almost instantly. Despite his freakishly large size, almost insatiable appetite and 10 eyes, the other smeets accept him as part of the swarm. He has close friends and enjoys lots of play time and emotional enrichment.

Unlike the original Hitz, who was conditioned from birth to be ruthless and heartless towards his shorter drones, Smeet Hitz is conditioned to be respectful and helpful.

Like his original self, Smeet Hitz tends to be obsessed with arithmetic, statistics and rules, but the adults of the hive, including Purple try to push his interests in positive and constructive directions. Smeet Hitz is also fascinated by armada ships and would love to pilot one his own one day. Purple is proud his adopted smeet believes strongly in fairness and justice. He wish such concepts meant more to him when he ruled.

It will serve the irken race well in the future. Smeet Hitz reminds him a lot of Red. He was the best gift the universe could have ever given Purple.

[p4nz]

oc art! this is my helldivers2 oc, they r my own species I made that used to inhabit gacrux, though that species was destroyed by the terminid invasion. i’ll yap more one day

this is also scene practice eueueueu

[stellarluminosity]

Constellation: Crux, The Southern Cross

Crux may be the smallest out of the 88 constellations but it is certainly not to be passed by. Simple and compact, it is a distinctive cross made up of 4 bright stars. Acrux (α-Cru) and Mimosa (β-Cru) are multiple star systems. The double star to look out for is Acrux which is distinguishable by a telescope revealing twin blue-white stars of magnitude 1.3 and 1.7. The red giant Gacrux (γ-Cru) of mag 1.6 contrasts with the constellations other blue-white stars with its notable reddish hue. The pulsating variable, Imai (δ-Cru), is the dimmest out of the 4 which shines with an apparent mag of 2.8. There is a 5th star, Ginan (ε-Cru) that is not included as part of the cross but crucial when it comes to identifying the cross. With a mag of 3.58, this orange giant star can be snuffed out in light polluted skies.

Like its northern counterpart, the big dipper, Crux can be used as a signpost to find the south celestial pole. It can be quite confusing since any random stars can be used to form a cross in the sky. The False Cross asterism is a common navigation error when 2 stars from Vela and another 2 from Carina was mistaken for the Southern Cross constellation. 4 neighbouring stars from Carina also form another asterism called the Diamond Cross. The key is to always look out for a lil star, ε-Crucis, between Acrux (α-Cru) and Imai (δ-Cru). They are almost in line with each other. Another key element is that Crux will always be accompanied by The Pointers, consisting the stars Rigel Kentaurus (α - Cen) & Hadar. (β- Cen). They are 2 stars of somewhat equal brightness from the constellation Centaurus just east of Crux.

How to find south with Crux and the Pointers

Firstly, perpendicularly bisect the line formed by α & β-Cen and extend the line all the way down. Then followed by a straight line going downwards from γ-Cru to α-Cru. The point where these 2 lines meet will mark the southern pole.

Where to look? (From a perspective of 4°N)

Being a prominent southern hemisphere constellation, those living way down south will see it as a circumpolar constellation meaning it will never set. If you're living in latitudes above 20°N, it will not be visible. In the picture, I've included the "Pointers" as well for ease of identification and orientation. From 4°N, Crux can be seen as early as April at sundown at SSE. Both the Pointers and Crux are fully visible late April. Best time for viewing will be in May where it is high up in the sky when you're facing exactly South (Duh). As July went by, it makes its way towards western horizon. It will not be seen again until January but only appearing in the wee hours of the morning.