# the Southern Cross · Crux (Cru)

- Latin name: Crux
- Common name: the Southern Cross
- Abbreviation: Cru
- Latin genitive: Crucis
- Name pronunciation: CRUCKS, CROOKS
- Genitive pronunciation: CROO-siss
- Sky region: South of the celestial equator
- Boundary declination range: -64.70° to -55.68°
- Chart reference: J2000
- Chart sections: 1

Charts show a fixed J2000 reference. What you can see depends on your location, the date and the time.

## Charts

This image was made with reference to IAU charts.

- [Crux · Light chart · SVG](https://constellations.wiki/media/styled/cru-light.svg)
- [Dark chart · SVG](https://constellations.wiki/media/styled/cru-dark.svg)
- [View IAU original](https://constellations.wiki/media/reference/iau/cru.gif)
- [Crux · PDF](https://constellations.wiki/downloads/pdf/cru.pdf)
- [Crux · GIF](https://constellations.wiki/media/original/cru.gif)
- [Crux · TXT](https://constellations.wiki/downloads/boundaries/cru.txt)

## How to read this chart

![Deep-sky legend](https://constellations.wiki/media/legends/legend-en.svg)

Dots mark stars, and their sizes indicate brightness. Stars appear dark on light charts and light on dark charts. Green lines show a constellation pattern. The surrounding grid gives right ascension and declination.

This is a fixed reference map, rather than a view of tonight’s sky.

- [Reading a star chart](https://constellations.wiki/en/guides/reading-star-charts/index.md)