Grus

Grus, known as the Crane, is a constellation nestled in the southern celestial hemisphere. Visible from latitudes between +34° and -90° primarily in the southern hemisphere, Grus graces the night sky from August to October

Stars

Alpha Gruis (Alnair) shines as the brightest star in Grus. This blue-white main-sequence star holds prominence as one of the nearest visible stars of its kind to Earth. Beta Gruis (Al Dhanab), an orange giant star relatively distant from our planet, is another significant luminary within this constellation.

History

Grus has its name derived from the Latin word for "crane," alluding simply to its depiction resembling a bird. Introduced by Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century, it was later acknowledged by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as one of the modern 88 constellations.

Objects

NGC 7424, a spiral galaxy, captures attention with its visible spiral arms and bright core. The Red Rectangle Nebula, caused by a dying star shedding its outer layers, also adds to the constellation's astronomical allure.