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South Celestial Pole




The constellation Crux , the Southern Cross, points towards the celestial South Pole. If the constellation is viewed as though it were a standing Christian cross, the Southern celestial pole is currently 4.5 times the height of the cross below its base. Very few stars of any great note lie between Crux and the pole, although the constellation Musca is fairly easily recognised immediately beneath Crux.

Although the South Celestial Pole currently lacks a bright star like Polaris to mark its position,
that will change in the future due to Precession . During the next 7500 years, the South Celestial Pole will pass close to the stars Gamma Chamaeleon tis (4200 CE), HD 90589, Omega Carinae (5800 CE), Upsilon Carinae, Iota Carinae ( Aspidiske , 8100 CE) and Delta Velorum (9200 CE).

Kappa Velorum is only a couple of degrees from the south celestial pole of Mars , so it could therefore be considered the current south star of Mars.


LIST OF SOUTH STARS



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