Can you see the Southern Cross from Oahu?

Question

If so, where do I look to see it?

Answer 1

Yes. It will be low on your southern horizon, so make sure you have a clear view. This time of year you can see it before dawn - it'll be due south just before 5 am. Every month you can see it 2 hours earlier.

You can go to Sky & Telescope's website and get an interactive sky chart - all you need to do is input your location. http://skytonight.com/

Answer 2

The southernmost of the main stars of the southern cross is at declination 63.1 South. In theory, it should be visible (barely) up to latitude 26.9 North.

Oahu is closer to 20N so Acrux should "climb" to five or six degrees above the southern horizon at its meridian passage. The rest of the cross should be higher (the other main stars being north of Acrux).

This time of year, that is around 4:45 a.m.

Find a place with a clear, dark view towards due South. Higher is better.

The height of the cross (alpha to gamma) is approx. 6 degrees, the width is a little less than 4 degrees. The whole cross will be slightly smaller than your whole hand held at arm's length.

As a bonus, from your location at 4:45 a.m., the Milky Way will appear horizontal along the southern horizon.

Answer 3

Not quite, I don't think. You look towards the south, and you will see Sagittarius and Scorpio. The Southern Cross would be below them. You may see a star or two that is part of the Cross, but I don't think you will see all of it. Best time to try to see it would be in the late summer, when Scorpio and Sagittarius are high in the sky.