enriched with barium, which is usually explained by the transfer of material from a more evolved companion. Typically this companion will subsequently become a white dwarf. However, no such companion has yet been detected. A +6.4 magnitude companion star lies about 2 arcminutes away at a position angle of 128° from the main star, and can be observed with binoculars. But it is only an optical companion, which is about 400 light years distant from Earth. In culture Gacrux is represented in the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Papua New Guinea as one of five stars which comprise the Southern Cross. It is also featured on the Republican flag of Brazil, along with 26 other stars, each of which represents a state. Gacrux represents the State of Bahia. The position of the line passing through Gacrux and Acrux marks the local meridian of the sky observed from Rio de Janeiro, at 8:30 am. on 15 November 1889: the time when the republic was formally ratified. See also Aldebaran Betelgeuse References External links M-type giants Barium stars Semiregular variable stars Crux (constellation) Crucis, Gamma 4763 CD-56 04504 0470 108903 061084 Gacrux