My sister is in Mackay and wants to know how to find the Southern Cross in the sky; can anyone help?

Looking south it’s to the left and up about 15 degrees from the horizon.

Obviousman said:

My sister is in Mackay and wants to know how to find the Southern Cross in the sky; can anyone help?

Look south. Low in the sky.

free app on a smart phone would be the modern way.

Obviousman said:

My sister is in Mackay and wants to know how to find the Southern Cross in the sky; can anyone help?

Un-Australian.

Nauru!

Peak Warming Man said:

Looking south it’s to the left and up about 15 degrees from the horizon.

That almost works here as well.

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Looking south it’s to the left and up about 15 degrees from the horizon.

That almost works here as well.

I’m in Toowoomba, and it’s not far above the souther horizon here.

It used to be even lower, seen from Bundaberg.

From Mackay: look VERY low to the south.

http://www.heavens-above.com/ is working again.

You can get an up-to-the minute sky map from there.

Here’s a direct link to the sky map for Mackay:

http://www.heavens-above.com/skychart2.aspx?lat=-21.1425&lng=149.1821&loc=Mackay&alt=10&tz=UCTm10

You have to go outside, face south, and hold it over your head, and look up at it. Trust me, it works that way.

captain_spalding said:

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Looking south it’s to the left and up about 15 degrees from the horizon.

That almost works here as well.

I’m in Toowoomba, and it’s not far above the souther horizon here.

It used to be even lower, seen from Bundaberg.

From Mackay: look VERY low to the south.

Is it upside down, or right side up? cant be bothered going out to look

Woodie said:

captain_spalding said:

roughbarked said:

That almost works here as well.

I’m in Toowoomba, and it’s not far above the souther horizon here.

It used to be even lower, seen from Bundaberg.

From Mackay: look VERY low to the south.

Is it upside down, or right side up? cant be bothered going out to look

Just look for Jesus.

I remember in Sydney it was reasonably low. It sat just above Mr coleman’s garage roof.

As I travelled south on my motorcycle it was higher in the sky every night. It wasn’t until I reached southern tassie that I could say I was under the southern cross.

The constellations appear to revolve about the southern celestial pole over the course of the night. For you in Mackay, at this time of year, the Southern Cross will be hogh in the sky (and appear “upright”) at around 4 am, directly in the South.

Early in the evening, it will be a fairly low lying cross, lying on its side if you see what I mean, in the south east.

If you’d like to see the SC high in the sky at a decent evening hour, you’ll need to wait until Winter.

As others have mentioned, heavens-above is a great website for getting starcharts for any particular time and location, and much else.

When looking for the Southern Cross for the first time, take care to avoid the “false cross”.

The following is from https://oneminuteastronomer.com/5337/false-cross/

In their search for Crux, many stargazers are tricked by the “False Cross”, a group of stars in the constellations Carina and Vela that resemble Crux. Here’s how to find the False Cross, and how to tell the difference from the real thing.

The False Cross lies about 25 degrees west-northwest of the Southern Cross, and about 20 degrees north-northeast of the Large Magellanic Cloud. It’s not a constellation, merely an asterism of four stars: delta Velorum, kappa Velorum, iota Carinae, and epsilon Carinae (Avior).

The False Cross tends to grab the attention of new stargazers, possibly because it’s a little larger than Crux. (Many are surprised at the small size of the Southern Cross when they first see it… the long axis of Crux is just 6 degrees long). But here’s how to tell the difference: the False Cross has more of a diamond-shape, while Crux has more of a true cross (or kite) shape.

For me, I always check to find the pointers. The false cross has no pointers. The pointers point at the top of the kite that is the Southern Cross

Go out at any time of night and see that it has moved.

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

The Southern Cross is normally not visible here at 17° South latitude.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

The Southern Cross is normally not visible here at 17° South latitude.

And that is why I think we could ditch the southern cross on the flag. It doesn’t really represent all of us. It represents those in the south.

sarahs mum said:

And that is why I think we could ditch the southern cross on the flag. It doesn’t really represent all of us. It represents those in the south.

It can be seen from all of Australia. some parts see it higher in the sky at times, and for a greater part of the year than others, but it can be seen from everywhere in the country.

It can be seen as far north as 25 deg N lat. – around Hawaii.

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

At most latitudes in the Souther hemisphere, Orion disappears from the night sky in winter. It ‘appears’ in the daytime sky in those months, but, of course, you can’t see it. So, it’s always there – just not always in the night sky.

If you want a nice big red giant star in winter, you have to forget about Betelgeuse, and look for Antares, which is conveniently on the ‘other side’ of the sky.

captain_spalding said:

sarahs mum said:

And that is why I think we could ditch the southern cross on the flag. It doesn’t really represent all of us. It represents those in the south.

It can be seen from all of Australia. some parts see it higher in the sky at times, and for a greater part of the year than others, but it can be seen from everywhere in the country.

It can be seen as far north as 25 deg N lat. – around Hawaii.

Not only that, however much I look I never see the Federation Star.

sarahs mum said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

The Southern Cross is normally not visible here at 17° South latitude.

And that is why I think we could ditch the southern cross on the flag. It doesn’t really represent all of us. It represents those in the south.

Yes and the commonwealth star.
On one side I’d have a sheaf of wheat above a merino ram and on the other side a big mother haul truck, rampant.

captain_spalding said:

sarahs mum said:

And that is why I think we could ditch the southern cross on the flag. It doesn’t really represent all of us. It represents those in the south.

It can be seen from all of Australia. some parts see it higher in the sky at times, and for a greater part of the year than others, but it can be seen from everywhere in the country.

It can be seen as far north as 25 deg N lat. – around Hawaii.

But it isn’t like we are all under the southern cross. Most people can’t see it because it behind the neighbour’s garage.

Both the Southern Cross and Orion currently appear in Sydney’s night sky.

Two or three hours after sunset, both should be readily visible, provided that light pollution in your location is not excessive.

sarahs mum said:

But it isn’t like we are all under the southern cross. Most people can’t see it because it behind the neighbour’s garage.

Possibly.

But, phrases like ‘a brave young nation behind the neighbour’s garage’ aren’t quite as inspiring.

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

All I can say is that there is very little difference between visibility from Melbourne and Sydney. There’s only 4 degrees of latitude difference.

Whether you can see the SC and Orion at the same time will depend mainly on the time of day and the time of year. If you are looking at around 8 pm, say, then you’ll be able to see SC and Orion in the sky at the same time from about February through to May … and that’s the case whether you’re in Sydney or Melbourne.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

Something that was explained to me once on the forum, but l
I’ve forgotten the answer.

From Sydney I noticed that either the Southern Cross or Orion was always visible at any one time but not both.

From Melbourne I noticed that Orion and the Southern Cross are always both visible.

From Brisbane I noticed that usually either the Southern Cross or Orion is visible. Never both but sometimes neither.

Some background, would only check the night sky about 9 to 10 pm and usually when the weather is warm.

All I can say is that there is very little difference between visibility from Melbourne and Sydney. There’s only 4 degrees of latitude difference.

Whether you can see the SC and Orion at the same time will depend mainly on the time of day and the time of year. If you are looking at around 8 pm, say, then you’ll be able to see SC and Orion in the sky at the same time from about February through to May … and that’s the case whether you’re in Sydney or Melbourne.

Perhaps my view of part of the horizon was blocked in Sydney.

Can’t see the Southern Cross but the Big Dipper, the Dividers & the Pleiades are almost directly overhead, just slightly north of me.

Tamb said:

Can’t see the Southern Cross but the Big Dipper, the Dividers & the Pleiades are almost directly overhead, just slightly north of me.

I don’t thing I’ve ever lived in a place where I couldn’t see the southern cross..
Even in Boulia, it was very low in the sky, but it could be seen.
Wasn’t there long so I guess it could dip below the horizon at other times of the year

Stumpy_seahorse said:

Tamb said:

Can’t see the Southern Cross but the Big Dipper, the Dividers & the Pleiades are almost directly overhead, just slightly north of me.

I don’t thing I’ve ever lived in a place where I couldn’t see the southern cross..
Even in Boulia, it was very low in the sky, but it could be seen.
Wasn’t there long so I guess it could dip below the horizon at other times of the year

Boulia is a 23° S latitude, I’m at 17° so it is even closer to the horizon. It’s probably visible but I’ve never seen it.

Tamb said:

Can’t see the Southern Cross but the Big Dipper, the Dividers & the Pleiades are almost directly overhead, just slightly north of me.

I’ve never seen the Big Dipper. Even when I was visiting John o’ Groats it was midsummer and there was too much sunlight even at 11 pm to see the stars. Other times in the northern hemisphere had either bright city lights or cloud or it was too freaking cold to go stargazing.

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

Can’t see the Southern Cross but the Big Dipper, the Dividers & the Pleiades are almost directly overhead, just slightly north of me.

I’ve never seen the Big Dipper. Even when I was visiting John o’ Groats it was midsummer and there was too much sunlight even at 11 pm to see the stars. Other times in the northern hemisphere had either bright city lights or cloud or it was too freaking cold to go stargazing.

Gets a bit bleak around John o’ Groats way even during the Scottish summer (June 9th & 10th)