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Dimensional comparison of the Southern Crosses on five national flags

Last modified: 2012-01-13 by rob raeside
Keywords: southern cross |
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Dimensional comparison of the Southern Crosses on five national flags
CountryFirst adoptedAdopted as national flagNumber of starsColour of starsSizes of stars* (Alpha Crux = 100)
Australia190219545white100:100:100:100:58
Brazil188918895white100:83?:83?:66?:46?
NZ186919024red, with
white fimbriation
100:85 5/7:85 5/7:71 3/7: ---
PNG197119755white100:100:100:100:50
Samoa194819625white100:80:80:75:50

CountryNumber of points*Angle of limbsHeight:Angled width:Horizontal width**Proportional lengths of arms***
Australia7:7:7:7:581.964°100:71.536:70.8331:0.586:0.546:0.521
Brazil5:5:5:5:5************
NZ5:5:5:5:-82°100:72.222:71.5171:0.583:0.5: 0.5
PNG5:5:5:5:587.397°100:66.736:66.6671:0.565:0.692:0.565
Samoa5:5:5:5:585.470°100:90.950:90.6671:0.672:0.495:0.688

* Alpha : Beta : Gamma : Delta : Epsilon Crux
** Height measures the vertical distance between the centres of Alpha and Gamma Crux, which stars are aligned vertically on all four flags. Angled width is the direct distance between the centres of Beta and Delta Crux. Horizontal width is the horizontal distance between these star's centres. The horizontal width is the angled width multiplied by the sine of the angle between the limbs. Measurements proportional for each flag given Height = 100.
*** Measures the straight-line length of the four arms of the cross, from the imaginary intersection of the limbs to each star's centre. Note that only on the PNG flag are the two arms of the short limb the same length. Order given is Alpha : Beta : Gamma : Delta Crux. Measurements proportional for each flag, given length of Alpha arm = 1.
**** It is not known whether Brazil's flag has been defined in enough detail to calculate these measurements.
Brendan Whyte, 25 January 2007