Acrux vs Alpha Virginis
Acrux and Alpha Virginis share a spectral class, B-type, and differ elsewhere. Intrinsically the balance shifts: Acrux carries an absolute magnitude of −4.20 against −3.44 for Alpha Virginis, making it about 2.0 times more luminous once distance is removed from the comparison. Acrux is the remoter of the pair at 322 light-years, roughly 1.3 times the 250 that separates us from Alpha Virginis.
Property comparison
| Property | Acrux | Alpha Virginis |
|---|---|---|
| Désignation | Alp1Cru | 67Alp Vir |
| Constellation | Crux | Virgo |
| Classe Spectrale | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) |
| Magnitude Apparente | +0.77 | +0.98 |
| Magnitude Absolue | -4.20 | -3.44 |
| Distance | 322 ly | 250 ly |
| Masse | N/A | N/A |
| Rayon | N/A | N/A |
| Température | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosité | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Acrux · Alpha Virginis
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are among the brightest stars in the southern sky and both are hot B-type systems.
- ◆ Acrux is the brightest star in the Southern Cross; Spica is the brightest in Virgo.
- ◆ Spica is a tidally distorted spectroscopic binary with a 4-day orbital period.
- ◆ Acrux has components resolvable through a small telescope; Spica's components cannot be resolved visually.
- ◆ Acrux appears on the national flags of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Brazil.