Probably the most famous of all the southern constellations is Crux Australis - The Southern Cross. Although the smallest of all the constellations, it has the highest concentration of bright stars of any constellation. Three of the 4 stars forming the cross are brighter than Belatrix, the third brightest star in Orion.
The Southern Cross is on the right of centre, while the two bright stars to the left are alpha and beta centauri. These two stars are commonly known as 'The Pointers' as they point to the Southern Cross.
The region around the Cross is very rich in interesting deep-sky objects of all types. The above photograph is reproduced below with some of the brighter objects indicated. Details are listed below.
Number | Name | R.A. | Dec | |
1 | NGC 3766 | 11 36.1 | -61 37 | Image |
2 |
IC 2948 The Running Chicken Nebula |
11 37.3 | -63 11 | Image |
3 |
NGC 4755 The Jewel Box Cluster |
12 53.6 | -60 20 | Image |
4 |
NGC 5139 Omega Centauri |
13 26.8 | -47 29 | Image |
5 |
NGC 5128 Centaurus A galaxy |
13 25.5 | -43 01 | Image |
6 | NGC 5460 | 14 07.6 | -48 19 | |
7 | NGC 5822 | 15 05.2 | -54 21 | Image |
8 | NGC 4945 | 13 04.9 | -47 16 | Image |
9 | Coal Sack | 12 53 | -63 | |
10 | NGC 5286 | 13 46.4 | -51 22 | Image |
11 | NGC 5617 | 14 29.8 | -60 43 |
30 minutes exposure on Fuji Super HG II 400 film. 35mm f/2.8 lens.
30 minutes exposure, Kodak Ektachrome 400 slide film. 35mm f/2.8 lens.
30 minutes exposure, Ektachrome 200 slide film.
85mm f/2 Canon lens.
20 minutes exposure, Ektachrome 200 slide film.
85mm f/2 Canon lens.
30 minutes exposure, Ektachrome 200 slide film.
300mm f/2 Pentax lens.