Southern Cross

The Southern Cross is one of the most famous constellations in the southern sky. Besides its distinctive shape, it can be used to find the southern direction. To do this, extend the distance from Gacrux to Acrux (see labeled image) about 4.5 times and drop a line, perpendicular from this point in the sky (where there is no bright star), to the horizon.
The two pointer stars α and β Centauri point directly to the Southern Cross in the sky. With these two stars it can also not be confused with the false cross With α Centauri we also have our neighboring solar system at a distance of only 4.3 light years in view.

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Date:03.05.2022
Optics: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art at f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
Camera: Canon EOS 6D
Exposure: 30 x 180 s
Location: Chamaeleon Observatory, Onjala Lodge, Namibia
Processing: Nebulosity, Registar, Starnet, Photoshop
annotated image

image field in the sky