Acrux
star · Crux · 0.8ᵐ
Blue-white star in Crux.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Acrux around the year 1704.
About 124 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Acrux in?
Acrux lies in Crux.
Is Acrux visible to the naked eye?
0.8ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Acrux?
Best observed in March.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 12h 27m · −63° 06′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Crux
- How to observe
- 0.8ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B0.5IV — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -4.2ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈4,093 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~322 light years
- Designation
- HIP 60718
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | never rises | — |
| +30° | never rises | — |
| 0° | 27° | 153° |
| −35° | 62° · never sets | — |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 04:41 |
| February | 02:34 |
| March | 00:48 |
| April | 22:55 |
| May | 21:01 |
| June | 18:55 |
| July | 16:51 |
| August | 14:50 |
| September | 12:57 |
| October | 11:08 |
| November | 09:07 |
| December | 06:59 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.