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Southern Cross
Southern Cross, a constellation in the form of a cross visible in the southern hemisphere. It is of no particular significance for navigation, as is, for example, the northern constellation of Ursa Minor which contains the Pole Star or Polaris. However, the last sight of it was a sign for the crews of the square-riggers which used South American ports during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to load nitrate, guano, or saltpetre that they were homeward bound. When a ship was loaded and ready to sail, the ship's carpenter made a large wooden cross to which were fixed red and white lights in the shape of the constellation. This was hoisted to the mainmast head and was greeted by the well-known shanty ‘Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound’. When the shanty was finished, the ship's bell in the next ship alongside was rung, and her crew cheered the departing vessel, and so in turn until all ships in harbour had cheered her.
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"Southern Cross." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Southern Cross." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-SouthernCross.html "Southern Cross." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-SouthernCross.html |
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southern
southern Southern Cross the constellation Crux Australis, four stars of which form a cross; the name land of the Southern Cross has been used for Australia since the late 19th century. Southern Cross is also a name for the Eureka flag.
Southern Lights another name for the aurora australis. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "southern." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "southern." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-southern.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "southern." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-southern.html |
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Southern Cross
Southern Cross Popular name for the constellation Crux. Its four brightest stars, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta Crucis, form a distinctive cross-shape.
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Cite this article
"Southern Cross." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Southern Cross." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-SouthernCross.html "Southern Cross." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-SouthernCross.html |
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Southern Cross
Southern Cross see Crux . |
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Cite this article
"Southern Cross." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Southern Cross." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-SthrnCr.html "Southern Cross." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-SthrnCr.html |
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