Asterism
The False Cross
A cross of four stars spanning Carina and Vela, often mistaken for the true Southern Cross (Crux).
Constellations
The constellations this pattern draws its stars from.
An asterism is a recognisable star pattern that is not one of the 88 official IAU constellations. Explore the 88 constellations →
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.