[Magdalen] Astronomers in the the pub?

[Brian Reid]

I've stood on the beach in New Zealand and Chile and looked up at the 
Southern Cross.
I've stood on the beach in Maine and Maryland looked up at the "Northern 
Cross".
There is no comparison. The Southern Cross is four very bright stars 
that feel like they belong together. It's impossible to miss.
The "Northern Cross" is six stars, only one of which is at all bright, 
that requires some training to perceive as belonging together.

The angle subtended by the major axis of the "Northern Cross" is about 4 
times as big as that of the Southern Cross, which means that the 
Southern Cross is "smaller".