Gacrux (γ Cru / γ Crucis / Gamma Crucis) is the third brightest star in constellationCrux (the Southern Cross) and the one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. Gamma (upper case Γ, lower case γ) is the 3rd letter of the Greek alphabet. ... Orion is a remarkable constellation, visible from most places on the globe (but not always the whole year long). ... CRUX is a lightweight, i686-optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users. ... By apparent magnitude Below the 100 Brightest stars as seen from Earth (by apparent magnitude at visible wavelengths) according to the Hipparcos sky survey. ...
Since Gamma Crucis is at roughly −60° declination, it is only visible south of the Tropic of Cancer and therefore didn't receive an ancient traditional name; "Gacrux" is simply a combination of the "Ga" in Gamma plus Crux. In astronomy declination (dec) is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. ... Tropic of Cancer is also the name of a novel by Henry Miller, first published in 1934. ...
Gamma Crucis is a binary star, 120 light years distant from Earth. The main star possesses an apparent magnitude of +1.6 and belongs to the spectral classification M3 III. The +6.4 magnitude companion star (spectral classification A3) is in an angle of 25" with a position angle of 128 degrees of the main star, and can be observed with binoculars. A binary star system consists of two stars both orbiting around their barycenter. ... A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... The apparent magnitude (m) of a star, planet or other heavenly body is a measure of its apparent brightness; that is, the amount of light received from the object. ... In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based initially on photospheric temperature and its associated spectral characteristics, and subsequenly refined in terms of other characteristics. ... Binoculars A set of binoculars (from Latin, bi-, two-, and oculus, eye) is a hand-held tool used to magnify distant objects by passing the image through two adjacent series of lenses, and erecting prisms. ...
For a time, observers believed that Gacrux had a faint, bluish white (A3 V) binary companion lying within two minutes of arc that is still designated in the SIMBAD Astronomical Database and the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, 1991 5th Revised Edition as Gamma Crucis B (HR 4764 or HD 108925).
Gacrux is a cool red giant star of spectral and luminosity type M3.5 III (but was once thought to be a "bright giant" of luminosity type II).
Gacrux has been found to be variable by a few tenths of a magnitude.
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