Grus

The Crane

A southern constellation shaped like a long-necked bird, south of Piscis Austrinus, visible low in the south from the southern United States.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Autumn
Best months: September through November, very low in the south on autumn evenings
Visibility: Visible low in the south from the southern half of the United States
Abbreviation: Gru

How to find it

Find Fomalhaut, then look below it for Alnair, the bright star of Grus.
From there, a line of stars runs up to the crane's long neck and head.

Brightest stars

Alnair (the brightest star, the crane's body)
Tiaki (an orange giant)

What to look for

Alnair, a bright star low in the south from the southern states.

Using it to find other things

Grus lies south of Fomalhaut and Piscis Austrinus.

About this constellation

Grus is a southern constellation that is visible from the United States only low in the south. Alnair, its brightest star, is much easier to see from the far southern states.

It was added to star charts by Dutch navigators in the 1500s, along with several other southern birds.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

← All constellations