back deutsch english español language

Crux and the Coalsack Dark Nebula

(Cru), Constellation Southern Cross and Caldwell 99

labels on/off

Date:13.08.04 Time:19:52 UT Exposure:20 min
Field of View:10o x 14o Emulsion:Fuji Provia 400F Filter:none
Optics:f=135mm 1/4.0 Place:Hakos, Namibia Observer:Till Credner
Notes to the data

© Copyright by the observers

The constellation Crux is probably the most famous constellation of the southern sky. Like the Big Dipper for the northern hemisphere, Crux acts as a pointer to find the celestial pole. Extending the length of the cross about five times into the southern direction gives the southern celestial pole. However, there is no bright star like Polaris on the northern hemisphere.

In the southeastern corner of Crux is a large and dark patch in very rich star fields of the milky way. It is called the "Coalsack" and can be seen already by naked eye. It is not really a direction without stars, there is a dark interstellar dust cloud obscuring the light of the stars behind and so appearing as a dark nebulae. Another well known dark nebulae is the Horsehead nebula.