Long-exposure photo of Crux (Southern Cross) constellation and bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri. Crux is the most prominent constellation in the southern hemisphere sky. The constellation is so distinctive that the national flags of Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa all include a representation of it. Another important subject in the photo is Alpha Centauri (left). Alpha Centauri is a gravitationally bound system of the closest stars and exoplanets to our Solar System at 4.37 light-years from the Sun. The Coalsack dark nebula can be seen at the left side of the Crux constellation.