Discover down under! Each day a different picture pertaining to Starfire's tour of Australia is featured, along with a brief explanation written by Australia enthusiasts.
2005 June 11
What is the pattern of stars on the flag?
They form the Southern Cross, which has been used by seafaring people for centuries to navigate in the southern hemisphere. Unlike the North Star, however, the Southern Cross is not right on the rotation axis of the earth, so a nearby pair of stars, called "The Pointers," is also needed to locate South, as indicated in the diagrams above.
Can you see the Southern Cross from California?
Authors & editors:
Bob Bolles
&
Phil Bolles