GRUS
The Crane
(Gru)



Generalities: it is a southern constellation containing  stars of moderate brightness. It transits at midnight in September.

Origins and mythology: it is a “modern” constellation and doesn't show any mythological references. The name is owed to the form  it recalls.

Stars: the stars alpha and beta respectively have magnitude 1.74 and 2.11. Alpha is white-blue and  is called Alnair .Beta is red and is called Al Dhanab. Besides these two stars of moderate brightness, there are other 4 stars under magnitude 3.

Table of stars brighter than magnitude 3.5
 
Star Proper name Magnitude Spectrum Colour Distance (light-years) Notes
Alpha Alnair 1.74 B5 white-blue 68
Beta Al Dhanab 2.11 (variable) M3 red 173
Gamma 3.01 B8 white 228
Epsilon 3.49 A2 white 82

Other objects: it contains different galaxies of weak brightness.


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