The Grus constellation
Gru · Catalogue stars: 13
Why this name?
The constellation depicts a crane, a long-legged bird with an extended neck. Its name continues the animal theme of southern star charts.
A little history
Grus appeared on European globes in the late sixteenth century and in Bayer’s atlas of 1603. Some of its stars had previously been associated with Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish.
Data
- IAU code
- Gru
- Catalogue stars
- 13
- Messier objects
- 0
- Brightest star
- Alnair · 1.7ᵐ
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 112623 · 3.5ᵐ · A3V
- HIP 114421 · 3.9ᵐ · K0III SB
- HIP 110997 · 4.0ᵐ · G6/G8III
- HIP 113638 · 4.1ᵐ · G8III
- HIP 111043 · 4.1ᵐ · M4.5IIIa
- HIP 114131 · 4.3ᵐ · F5me...
- HIP 109111 · 4.5ᵐ · M0III
- HIP 109908 · 4.8ᵐ · G8III+...
- HIP 112203 · 4.8ᵐ · K0III
- HIP 112374 · 4.8ᵐ · K2IIICNIV
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | never rises | — |
| +30° | 15° | 145° |
| 0° | 45° | 135° |
| −35° | 80° | 150° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 14:50 |
| February | 12:43 |
| March | 10:57 |
| April | 09:04 |
| May | 07:10 |
| June | 05:04 |
| July | 03:00 |
| August | 00:59 |
| September | 23:06 |
| October | 21:17 |
| November | 19:16 |
| December | 17:08 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Grus?
Alnair — 1.7ᵐ.