With an area of less than seventy square degrees, Crux has the distinction of being the smallest constellation in the sky. It occupies only about one twentieth of the area of Hydra , the largest of the constellations .
Crux lies within a densely populated area of the Milky Way , and so in a densely starred region.
As one might imagine from its name, the body of the Cross is made up of four bright stars, Alpha , Beta , Gamma and Delta Crucis . These are, without doubt, the three least inspired star names in the entire sky.