Stargazing

The Southern Cross is a constellation visible only in the southern hemisphere. It's also called this because the 4 stars of the cross point due south - like the big dipper pointing to the North Star back home. The most common place to see it is on the Australian flag. The second most common place is the kiwi flag. Third most common is in the sky, and that's where your intrepid explorers ran into a bit of trouble.

Ever since we first came to Australia in 2003 we've wanted to see the Southern Cross. On that trip we were out on the Coral Sea and Marlys asked the captain if he could point out the cross for her. "Sure love. Come up on deck at 3 AM and it will be bright and visible." 3 AM? Never saw the cross that trip.

We figured once we moved here we'd definitely see the Southern Cross. And with our view over Port Phillip Bay, surely it would just jump out at us on a clear night. Right? Alas, no. When the stars came out, there were so many there was no way to tell which one was the Southern Cross. "Is that it? Or maybe that?"

Eventually it got to be a running joke. We'd get off the tram at night and as we walked to the house one of us would say "Oh honey, there's the Southern Cross" and point in a random direction. The other would say "Yep - looks beautiful tonight." Then we'd grind our teeth in frustration. Stupid stars.

But lo and behold we finally saw the Southern Cross – or perhaps finally identified the Southern Cross would be more accurate. Here's how it happened. First, someone informed us the cross on the flag is a bit misleading. The Southern Cross is lying on its side. What? Can't these people get the stupid flag right? I mean, it's not like the stars were periodically changing position or something! So all the time we were looking for the pole star that didn't exist.

Next, someone correctly identified south for us. Yes, we were gazing sort of east southeast instead of south the whole time. Look, we're not voyageurs and if we needed to know the cardinal points 24 hours a day, we'd buy a compass.

Armed with these two important pieces of data, we looked up (and south). And there it was!! Just like on the flag - if the flag is held up at a 90 degree angle that is.

These days we point it out all the time, which has deprived us of one good running gag but, on the other hand, we always know where south is located. We'll never get lost in Oz now - unless it's cloudy.

One other celestial discovery. Being south of the equator the "normal" constellations are upside down. Yep, when you look at Orion he is doing a handstand, although his sword somehow defies gravity. Australians call Orion "the saucepot". Some say this is because the constellation looks like a pot when turned upside down. Other's say it's because Orion was a heavy drinker. IF he's an Aussie - bet on the latter