Why do Australians and New Zealanders find the five stars of the Southern Cross so important? One reason is that they are particularly eye-catching — they are bright, close together and form a distinctive shape. They are therefore easy to find, and can be seen all year round in much of the country.
How to find the Southern Cross: the diagram below shows how to find the Southern Cross in the sky. It is easy to find due to the brightness of its stars and the two bright stars (the pointers) which point to it. To use the diagram, face south and hold it in front of you with the arrow pointing down. It shows the position of the cross and the pointers for each month at about 8:00 pm (or 9:00 pm summer time).
How to find south using the Southern Cross: the diagram shows how the long axis of the cross always points to the same point in the sky. This point is known as the South Celestial Pole. To find it extend the long axis of the cross by four and a half times its length. South is the point on the horizon directly below the pole.