Grus constellation
Grus is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the crane. It is highest in the sky at midnight around 31 August, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 37°N to 90°S.
Grus at a glance
- Represents
- the crane
- Highest at midnight
- 31 August
- Highest at 9 pm
- 15 October
- Seen whole from
- 37°N to 90°S
- Brightest star
- Alnair
- Stars in the figure
- 9 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Grus
Grus is highest in the sky at midnight around 31 August and at 9 pm around 15 October. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on summer time or daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| 15 January | 3:00 PM |
| 15 February | 12:50 PM |
| 15 March | 11:00 AM |
| 15 April | 9:00 AM |
| 15 May | 7:00 AM |
| 15 June | 5:00 AM |
| 15 July | 3:00 AM |
| 15 August | 1:00 AM |
| 15 September | 11:00 PM |
| 15 October | 9:00 PM |
| 15 November | 7:00 PM |
| 15 December | 5:00 PM |
Where to look for Grus
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, only part of Grus rises. Its centre is highest around midnight on 31 August, 5° above the southern horizon.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Grus rises in the east and sets in the west. It is highest around midnight on 31 August, 80° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Grus
Grus in myth and history
Grus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Grus
Find Grus in your sky
Questions about Grus
Grus is highest in the sky at midnight around 31 August and at 9 pm around 15 October. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Grus rises above the horizon from 37°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 53°N to 90°S.
Alnair is the brightest star in Grus, at magnitude 1.73.
Grus represents the crane. Grus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.