Did I get the Southern Cross?

[Simpo Two]

Well I thought I did but now am not so sure... can any expert Stronomers tell me? I've found pictures of it on Google but can't match them up...



If that's not clear enough I stuck it in Photoshop and more stars appeared!

[moreflaps]

Looks like the false cross to me.

Cheers

[allegro]

Dont know about the southern star but i can make something out if i enhance it a little more

[Simpo Two]

Heh. Well there is something like an upside down kite in the bottom right corner of the top photo, but it seems more like a mirror image of the actual Southern Cross.

(It was taken from the Bay of Islands in NZ in case anyone is about to say you can't see it from England)!

[Eric Mc]

You can see it easily from the UK -

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

Well I thought I did but now am not so sure...

How far south were you when you took the photo. It's usually fairly easy to spot.

[Simpo Two]

el stovey said:

How far south were you when you took the photo. It's usually fairly easy to spot.

35°14'49.12"S. Taken on 31 Dec 2005 - only now have I decided to get confirmation!)

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

35°14'49.12"S. Taken on 31 Dec 2005 - only now have I decided to get confirmation!)

I used to live at around that latitude, and the southern cross was easily visible, I can't tell from your photo but it doesn't look like the southern cross to me. The southern cross is more kite shaped.

[Eric Mc]

The rendition on the Fosters can is pretty accurate for the overall shape and relative magnitude of the individual stars.

[Simpo Two]

How about if I turn it round a bit... this is like a kite:




Perhaps I have discovered the Simpo Cross instead...

[Pints]

Southern Cross you say?



http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-southern-cr...

[rxtx]

Centre top,

[Eric Mc]

Appropriate link, I think -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qvIvBhSX8

[Buffalo]

i always found looking for the two leader stars (not shown on the fosters can) the best way to identify the SC, since there is another group of stars that looks suspiciously like it; however that group is narrower, does not have the leader stars and (most obviously on paper, not when searching directly for the SC) not fully in the southern portion of the sky.

One time in the Western Australian outback I saw the plough low on the horizon in May - that was pretty cool! I understand that is not a very common occurrence.

[Eric Mc]

I presume it was upside down?

[Simpo Two]

Buffalo said:

I saw the plough

Also known as the 'Supermarket Trolley' now I believe!