Gacrux - γ Crucis (gamma Crucis)

Below the horizon. Rise: 11:58 | Tran: 18:20 | Set: 0:42

Alt: -21.28° Az: 158.55° Direction: South

Gacrux, also designated as γ Crucis (gamma Crucis), is a variable and multiple giant star of spectral class M3 in the constellation of Crux.

Gacrux visual magnitude is 1.63, making it the 23th brightest star in the sky. Because of its brightness, Gacrux is clearly visible to the naked eye when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

Image of Gacrux - γ Crucis (gamma Crucis) star

DSS2 image of Gacrux. The red arrow shows the motion of Gacrux during the next 1000 years (0.38 arcmin in Right Ascension and -4.37 arcmin in declination);

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 12h 32m 35s

Declination -57° 15’ 13”

Hour Angle 14h 36m 09s

Sidereal Time 03h 08m 45s

J2000

Right Ascension 12h 31m 09s

Declination -57° 06’ 47”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 300.17°

Galactic Latitude 5.65°

Finder Chart

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Finder chart for Gacrux - γ Crucis (gamma Crucis).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 1.63

Class Giant

Absolute magnitude -0.52

Spectral Type M3III

Color Index (B-V) 1.59

Temperature 3663K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where Gacrux is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of Gacrux. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Star System Properties

Gacrux is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of small or medium telescopes. The table below shows key information about the Gacrux double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 1.63

Secondary star magnitude 6.73

Magnitude difference 5.1

Separation 110.6 arcsec

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

Gacrux is distant 87.89 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 21 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 26.96

Distance (light year) 87.89

Radial Speed 21 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.023 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec -0.262"/y

Alternative Designations

Proper Name Gacrux

Bayer designation γ Crucis
(gamma Crucis)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD108903

SAO Catalogue SAO240019

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP61084

Durchmusterung Catalogue CP-56 5272

FK5 Catalogue 468

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 5672

Visibility from Your Location

Today's Gacrux - γ Crucis (gamma Crucis) rise, transit and set times from Beoga, Indonesia are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Asia/Jayapura):

Azimuth: 147.3° RISE 11:58

Max altitude: 36.6° TRANSIT 18:20

Azimuth: 212.7° SET 0:42

Name:	Beoga, Indonesia
Latitude:	3° 50' 22.2" S
Longitude:	137° 10' 1.2" E
Timezone:	Asia/Jayapura

Set Location

Other stars in Crux