Grus Constellation

Grus Constellation [Stellarium]

Constellation Grus the Crane is a southern constellation bordering Piscis Austrinus, Phoenix, Tucana, Indus and Microscopium. It was introduced by Johann Bayer in 1603 and remains one of the 88 modern constellations. Grus spans 24 degrees of the zodiac in the Sign of Aquarius.

Grus Constellation Stars

2000	2050	Star	Name	Sp. Class	Mag.	Orb
15♒54	16♒37	α Gru	Alnair	B7	1.73	2°20′
17♒25	18♒07	γ Gru	Aldhanab	B8	3.00	1°50′
18♒56	19♒38	λ Gru		M0	4.47	1°10′
20♒44	21♒26	ε Gru		A3	3.49	1°40′
21♒34	22♒16	δ² Gru		M4	4.12	1°20′
21♒36	22♒18	δ¹ Gru		G6	3.97	1°30′
21♒56	22♒38	ζ Gru		G8	4.11	1°20′
22♒19	23♒02	β Gru	Tiaki	M5	2.07	2°10′
28♒30	29♒12	ι Gru		K0	3.88	1°30′
28♒50	29♒32	θ Gru		F5	4.28	1°20′

Grus Astrology

Robson

History. Added by Bayer, 1604.

Influence. Grus gives a retiring, active, proud, watchful, kind, idealistic and devoted nature, with a liking for astronomy. ^[1]

Grus Constellation [Bode]

Allen

Grus, the Crane, is one of the so‑called Bayer groups… and the title is appropriate, for Horapollo, the grammarian of Alexandria, about A.D. 400, tells us that the crane was the symbol of a star-observer in Egypt, presumably from its high flight as described in our motto.

The Arabians included its stars in the Southern Fish, Al Sufi giving its α, β, δ, θ, ι, and λ as unformed members of that constellation.

The components, with the exception of the lucida, form a gentle curve southwest from this Fish, and among them are stars noted in astronomy. One hundred and seven are catalogued by Gould as being visible to the naked eye.

α, marking the body of the bird, is the conspicuous 2d‑magnitude… It was Al Tizini’s Al Nā᾽ir, the Bright One, i.e. of the Fish’s tail, when that constellation extended over the stars of our Grus. The Chinese knew it as Ke.

β, a 2.2‑magnitude red star, was Al Tizini’s Rear One at the end of the tail of his Fish, thirty-five minutes of arc to the eastward from α. It is in the left wing of the Crane.

γ, a 3d‑magnitude, was the same author’s Al Dhanab, the Tail itself, but now marks the eye in the bird’s figure.

The alternative title for the stars of Grus, Phoenicopterus, the Flamingo, is now seldom, if ever, used, nor can I find any record of its inventor, or date of its adoption as a constellation name. ^[2]