Page "Beta Crucis" Paragraph 0

Beta Crucis, also known as Mimosa or Becrux, is the second brightest star in the constellation Crux ( after Alpha Crucis or Acrux ) and is the 19th brightest star in the night sky.

It forms part of the prominent asterism called the Southern Cross, which appears on five national flags.

Although Beta Crucis, " Becrux ", is at roughly − 60 ° declination, and therefore not visible north of 30 °, in the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans it was visible north of 40 ° due to the precession of equinoxes, and these civilizations regarded it as part of the constellation Centaurus.

Its modern name, Mimosa, which is derived from the Latin word for " actor ", may come from the flower of the same name.