Crux (the cross), commonly known as the
Southern Cross, is the smallest of the 88 modern
constellations, but also one of the most famous.
Its four brightest stars (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta Crucis) appear on the flags of
Australia,
New Zealand and
Samoa.
The Australian and Samoan flags show also Epsilon Crucis.
Crux was formerly part of Centaurus, and was first introduced as a separate constellation by A. Royer in 1679.
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