ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 5.2%
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24-06-2011, 04:11 PM
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Bust Duster
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,846
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how many stars in the Southern Cross?
I'm having a heck of a time convincing some work colleagues there's more than 5 stars in the Southern Cross (Crux). Help.  
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24-06-2011, 04:19 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,622
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They live in light pollutted suburbia, of course you will not convince them because they wont be able to see any more than 5
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24-06-2011, 04:19 PM
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Ad astra per aspera
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Lismore
Posts: 634
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24-06-2011, 04:58 PM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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I've seen some very deep images of Crux on this forum. Get them to count them! 
Al.
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24-06-2011, 04:58 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 3,819
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That list is for visual observers only. What is your limiting magnitude? Depending on your limit the number could be very large indeed.
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24-06-2011, 05:23 PM
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Bust Duster
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,846
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LOL I showed them some of those deep images of Crux from here. They still insist that those aren't in the Southern Cross, they're behind it.  
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24-06-2011, 05:27 PM
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IIS Member #671
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
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Time to find new work colleagues.
H
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24-06-2011, 05:35 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: moonee beach
Posts: 2,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troypiggo
I'm having a heck of a time convincing some work colleagues there's more than 5 stars in the Southern Cross (Crux). Help. |
go for a drive west one arvo and show them what a dark sky looks like
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24-06-2011, 05:43 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,847
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troypiggo
LOL I showed them some of those deep images of Crux from here. They still insist that those aren't in the Southern Cross, they're behind it. |
 A new definition of a constellation.
Cheers
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24-06-2011, 08:47 PM
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Member > 10year club
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Coast NSW
Posts: 3,339
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Is there a difference between the "Southern Cross" and the constellation of "Crux".
I mean, If the Southern Cross is like an asterism, then they may be right.
For example the stars in the "teapot" are only a small part of the stars in Sagittarius.
All you experts may have to eat your words
Here is a definition that supports my view:
Crux: Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism ...
....read my signature, obi wan was right again
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25-06-2011, 08:04 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Beaumont Hills NSW
Posts: 2,900
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I don't know what all the fuss is about. If you are an Aussie there are five stars. If you are a Kiwi there are four stars. Our flags show it!
Barry
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25-06-2011, 08:35 AM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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It depends on what you call a constellation. The constellations all started as asterisms, however, they have since been defined to have borders, and all that is within the borders is in the constellation.
The asterism still exists, however. The answer to how many stars are in the asterism is finite but possibly subject to some debate. The answer to how many are in the constellation will be very much larger, may not be finite and will also be subject to some debate unless a limit to the magnitude of the stars is specified.
Al.
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25-06-2011, 09:53 AM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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In the asterism, there's 5. Within the borders of the constellation, probably several tens of millions 
"Joe Public" would know the answer to the first, but not to the second.
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25-06-2011, 09:57 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand
Posts: 2,260
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I agree that there are only 4, or maybe 5, stars in the asterism of Crux itself. The point is that they form a cross. Within the boundaries designated to Crux there are of corse myriads of stars, but I'd say your colleagues are right in saying that these are lying behind the asterism as such. It's really two different concepts.
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25-06-2011, 11:47 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bright, Vic, Australia
Posts: 2,187
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Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
Within the borders of the constellation, probably several tens of millions
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Bit understated Carl - what about all the stars in all the galaxies framed by the constellation, out to edge of the observable Universe? 
Anyway, as many have said the Southern Cross is not a constellation, so the answer's 4 or 5 depending on which side of the ditch you are! I like 4 because those make the cross.
Cheers -
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25-06-2011, 01:10 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: all over the shop...
Posts: 2,098
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane
Time to find new work colleagues.
H
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25-06-2011, 01:33 PM
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The serenity...
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posts: 926
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Easy:
Southern Cross = 5 in Australia
Southern Cross = 4 in New Zealand
Crux = many!!!
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25-06-2011, 02:35 PM
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Bust Duster
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,846
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I ended up solving the problem by saying "I'm the boss. You can have your own opinion of course, but if it's different to mine, it's wrong and you're fired." mwuhahahaha.
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25-06-2011, 02:44 PM
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Like to learn
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: melbourne
Posts: 4,835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troypiggo
I ended up solving the problem by saying "I'm the boss. You can have your own opinion of course, but if it's different to mine, it's wrong and you're fired." mwuhahahaha.
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25-06-2011, 09:19 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_K
Bit understated Carl - what about all the stars in all the galaxies framed by the constellation, out to edge of the observable Universe?
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Not counting them
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