Gamma Crucis - in Culture

In Culture

Since Gamma Crucis, "Gacrux", is at roughly −60° declination, it lacks a traditional name. Nonetheless, it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, in whose era it was visible north of 40° latitude due to the precession of equinoxes. The astronomer Ptolemy counted it as part of the constellation Centaurus.

In Chinese, 十字架 (Shí Zì Jià), meaning Cross, refers to an asterism consisting of γ Crucis, α Crucis, β Crucis and δ Crucis. Consequently, γ Crucis itself is known as 十字架一 (Shí Zì Jià yī, English: the First Star of Cross.).

The people of Aranda and Luritja tribe around Hermannsburg, Central Australia named Iritjinga, "The Eagle-hawk", a quadrangular arrangement comprising this star, δ Cru (Palida), γ Cen (Muhilfain) and δ Cen (Ma Wei).

γ Cru is represented in the flags of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea as one of five stars which comprise the Southern Cross. It is also featured in the flag of Brazil, along with 26 other stars, each of which represents a state. γ Cru represents the State of Bahia.