Star lore
Acrux
Direct answer
Acrux is Alpha Crucis, the brightest star in Crux and a multiple stellar system marking the foot of the Southern Cross.
Acrux is the brilliant foot star of Crux and a major southern navigation anchor.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Castor, Mimosa, Hadar, Shaula
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The story behind Acrux
The modern name contracts Alpha and Crux; navigators and almanacs helped standardize its widespread use.
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The Road of the Sun
Where the twelve signs came from, and why they carry the names they do.
Why Acrux matters
Together with Gacrux it defines the Cross's long axis used to estimate the direction of the south celestial pole.
How to read Acrux
Draw a line from Gacrux through Acrux and continue it several cross-lengths toward the pole.
Acrux in practice: an example
A small telescope separates two of Acrux's bright blue-white components.
Where readings of Acrux go wrong
The extension gives an approximate direction, not a precise position fix without additional methods.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Point south through Acrux
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Common questions
What is Acrux?
Acrux is Alpha Crucis, the brightest star in Crux and a multiple stellar system marking the foot of the Southern Cross.
What do people get wrong about Acrux?
The extension gives an approximate direction, not a precise position fix without additional methods.
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