Imai

Crux · Cru · δ Cru · HR 4656 · HIP 59747 · magnitude 2.75

The Mursi name a line of four stars imai (δ Cru), thaadoi (β Cru), waar (β Cen) and sholbi (α Cen). Their successive disappearance (heliacal setting) are used to determine when the River Omo will flood (it does this sev…

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Astronomy

Official IAU information

Designation

HR 4656

HIP

59747

Bayer ID

δ Cru

Visual magnitude

2.75

Right ascension (J2000)

183.786°

Declination (J2000)

-58.7489°

IAU adoption

2018/08/10

Name origin

The Mursi name a line of four stars imai (δ Cru), thaadoi (β Cru), waar (β Cen) and sholbi (α Cen). Their successive disappearance (heliacal setting) are used to determine when the River Omo will flood (it does this several times) and hence to determine when to plant the annual crop of cowpeas beside it (after the last flood but before the ground dries out). Imai is the Mursi name for the grass that grows along the banks of the river (Rhynchelytrum repens). It is said that when the imai star disappears, the Omo rises high enough to flatten the imai grass.

Other stars in Crux