Star profile
Iota Crucis
What is Iota Crucis
Iota Crucis lies some 120 light-years away within the Southern Cross, the most celebrated figure of the southern sky and the emblem of so many flags and maritime routes. It is an orange K-type giant whose warm hue contrasts with the bluish tones of some of its neighbours, adding a chromatic nuance to the small constellation's frame.
Where it is and when to see it
Iota Crucis lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is May, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it never rises above the horizon.
- From New York it never rises above the horizon.
- From Sydney it never sets and culminates about 63° up.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 29° N.
It ranks no. 12 in brightness among the 32 stars of Crux in our catalogue. To find it, start from Acrux, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 120 years ago.
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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.
Astronomical data for Iota Crucis
- Constellation
- Crux
- Apparent magnitude
- 4.69
- Distance
- 120.1 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 191.408° · Dec -60.981°
- Catalogue
- HIP 62268 · HD 110829
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Other stars in Crux
Crux has 32 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- AcruxAlpha 1 Crucis0.77
- MimosaBeta Crucis1.25
- GacruxGamma Crucis1.59
- Theta 1 Crucis4.32
- HIP 623274.62
- Lambda Crucis4.62
- Theta 2 Crucis4.72
- HIP 619664.91