Tags: Star.
Gamma Crucis (γ Cru γ Crucis) often called Gacrux is the nearest red giant star to the Sun. The distance to Gacrux has been determined using parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission which yielded a value of 88.6 light-years (27.2 parsecs) away from Earth. With an apparent visual magnitude of +1.63 this is the third-brightest star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Crux the Southern Cross and one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
