Grulla
Crane (Gruis)
Grus, the Crane, is a southern constellation created by Dutch navigators in the late 16th century. It contains several reasonably bright stars forming a distinctive pattern that resembles a crane in flight. The constellation offers several interesting galaxies and lies in a region away from the Milky Way's obscuring dust.
📜 Mitología
Grus was created from observations by Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman during their expedition to the East Indies (1595-1597). It was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598. The crane was revered in many ancient cultures - in Greece it was associated with Hermes, and in various Asian traditions it symbolizes longevity and happiness. Before its designation as a crane, these stars were sometimes considered part of nearby Piscis Austrinus, called 'The Flamingos.'
💡 Datos curiosos
- ✦Alnair means 'the bright one' in Arabic, referring to its prominence in Grus
- ✦Grus contains the interacting galaxy pair NGC 7552/7582, known as the Grus Quartet with two other galaxies
- ✦Beta Gruis is a variable red giant whose brightness changes are visible to the naked eye over months