Gamma in Crux the Southern Cross is also known as Gacrux, it's the star at the top of the cross. Its 87 light years away and has a magnitude of 1.6 its a red M3 giant class star with a temperature of 3,300,C. Its the only red giant in the crux shape all the other three stars are blue white in colour and therefore much hotter and younger. It is the nearest red giant to the Sun.