Beta Crucis is located approximately 353 light years distant. It is a spectroscopic binary with components that are too close together to resolve with a telescope. The pair orbit each other every 5 years and are separated by about 8 AU. Beta Crucis, being of spectral type B0.5IV, is believed to be the hottest first-magnitude star.

Since Beta Crucis is at roughly −60° declination, it is only visible south of the Tropic of Cancer and therefore didn't receive a known ancient traditional name. "Mimosa" is a recent name based on its color, while "Becrux" is simply a combination of the "Be" in Beta plus Crux. It is known as 十字架三 (the Third Star of the Cross) in Chinese.

External links

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• http://jumk.de/astronomie/big-stars/becrux.shtml