Why does the Australian flag have six stars?

In fact, it should be said that it is the big star on the left, plus the five-constellation southern cross star map on the right.

The seven-pointed star on the left represents seven states (territories) in Australia.

The Southern Cross, consisting of five stars on the right, is a unique constellation in the southern hemisphere sky, similar to the astronomical image of the Big Dipper in the northern hemisphere.

Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Samoa all have the Southern Cross on their flags.