Crux (The Southern Cross)

constellation · southern hemisphere · stars

A tiny giant. Crux is the smallest constellation of all 88 modern constellations, but don't let that fool you, its four main stars are so bright and perfectly arranged that it's one of the easiest to spot in the night sky.

The Southern Cross. The constellation gets its name from the Latin word for cross, and its four brightest stars form an unmistakable cross shape that ancient explorers used as a navigation guide.

Milky Way neighbor. Crux sits right on the southern edge of the Milky Way's glowing band, which means it shares the sky with countless other stars and cosmic wonders.

Cultural treasure. Many countries and islands in the Southern Hemisphere have adopted Crux as a symbol of national pride, and it appears on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea.