What it looks like
Grus is a mid-sized southern constellation drawn as a long-necked crane. It was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598 and later included by Johann Bayer in his 1603 Uranometria. Alnair, its brightest star, is one of the brightest in the southern sky, and the constellation lies in a rich region below Piscis Austrinus.
Brightest stars
Grus has two bright stars, Alnair and Beta Gruis, both around magnitude 2.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnair (α Gruis) | +1.74 | 101 ly | The Bright One |
| Beta Gruis | +2.11 | 170 ly | — |
| Gamma Gruis | +3.00 | 211 ly | — |
| Delta Gruis | +3.97 | 325 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Grus has no ancient mythology. It was created by Petrus Plancius in 1598 from stars that had been part of the neighbouring constellation Piscis Austrinus.
A southern crane
Grus was introduced in 1598 by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius, drawing on star positions recorded by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman on their voyages to the East Indies. It was later included by Johann Bayer in the Uranometria (1603), and by Hevelius and others. Because it is a modern constellation, it has no ancient Greek myth, but the crane is a bird of many traditions — sacred to Apollo, associated with travel and wisdom, and long represented in Egyptian and Chinese art.
How to find it
Look for Alnair low in the southern sky on spring and autumn evenings, beneath bright Fomalhaut.
- Fomalhaut points the way — Grus lies just south of it.
- The bird's neck is a curved line of stars running toward the south.
- Best from the southern hemisphere and low northern latitudes.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Gru
- Genitive
- Gruis
- Meaning
- The Crane
- Brightest star
- Alnair
- Main stars
- 7
- Area rank
- 45th
- Best visible
- November
- Declination
- -45°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Piscis Austrinus, Microscopium, Sculptor, Phoenix, Tucana, Indus
Deep-sky objects
Grus contains the bright galaxies NGC 7213 and NGC 7410, plus the Grus Quartet — a group of four interacting galaxies about 70 million light-years away, popular with southern-hemisphere astrophotographers.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Grus look like?
Grus is a bright southern constellation known as the Crane, marked by its second-magnitude star Alnair and a distinctive curved line of stars forming the bird's neck.
What is the brightest star in Grus?
The brightest star in Grus is Alnair, shining at around magnitude 1.74.
When is Grus best visible?
Grus is best seen from southern hemisphere during November.
What is the story behind Grus?
Grus has no ancient mythology. It was created by Petrus Plancius in 1598 from stars that had been part of the neighbouring constellation Piscis Austrinus.
Which constellations are near Grus?
Grus borders Piscis Austrinus, Microscopium, Sculptor, Phoenix, Tucana and Indus.
Piscis Austrinus
Phoenix