Editing Crux (section)

{{short description|Constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere}}
{{hatnote group|
{{other uses}}
{{redirect|Southern Cross}}
}}
{{Infobox constellation
| name = Crux
| abbreviation = Cru
| genitive = Crucis
| pronounce = {{IPAc-en|k|r|ʌ|k|s}}, genitive {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|uː|s|ɪ|s}}
| symbolism = Southern Cross
| RA = {{RA|12.5}}
| dec= {{DEC|−60}}
| family = [[Hercules Family|Hercules]]
| quadrant = SQ3
| areatotal = 68
| arearank = 88th
| numbermainstars = 4
| numberbfstars = 19
| numberstarsplanets = 2
| numberbrightstars = 5
| numbernearbystars = 0
| brighteststarname = [[Alpha Crucis|Acrux]] (α Cru)
| starmagnitude = 0.87
| neareststarname = [[Eta Crucis|η Cru]]
| stardistancely = 64.22
| stardistancepc = 19.69
| numbermessierobjects = 0
| meteorshowers = [[Crucids]]
| bordering = [[Centaurus]]<br />[[Musca]]
| latmax = [[20th parallel north|20]]
| latmin = [[South Pole|90]]
| month = May
| notes=
| main stars = 5
}}
'''Crux''' ({{IPAc-en|k|r|ʌ|k|s}}) is a [[constellation]] of the [[southern sky]] that is centred on four bright stars in a [[Christian cross|cross]]-shaped [[Asterism (astronomy)|asterism]] commonly known as the '''Southern Cross'''. It lies on the southern end of the [[Milky Way]]'s visible band.  The name ''Crux'' is Latin for cross. Even though it is the [[List of constellations by area|smallest]] of all [[88 modern constellations]], Crux is among the most easily distinguished as its four main stars each have an [[apparent visual magnitude]] brighter than +2.8. It has attained a high level of cultural significance in many Southern Hemisphere states and nations.

Blue-white [[α Crucis]] (Acrux) is the most southerly member of the constellation and, at magnitude 0.8, the brightest. The three other stars of the cross appear clockwise and in order of lessening magnitude: [[β Crucis]] (Mimosa), [[γ Crucis]] (Gacrux), and [[δ Crucis]] (Imai). [[ε Crucis]] (Ginan) also lies within the cross asterism. Many of these brighter stars are members of the [[Scorpius–Centaurus association]], a large but loose group of hot, blue-white stars that appear to share common origins and motion across the southern Milky Way.

Crux contains four [[Classical Cepheid variable|Cepheid variables]], each visible to the naked eye under optimum conditions. Crux also contains the bright and colourful [[open cluster]] known as the [[Jewel Box (star cluster)|Jewel Box]] (NGC 4755) on its eastern border. Nearby to the southeast is a large [[dark nebula]] spanning 7° by 5° known as the [[Coalsack Nebula]], portions of which are mapped in the neighbouring constellations of [[Centaurus]] and [[Musca]].