Musca
Fly (Muscae)
Musca, the Fly, is a small southern constellation near the Southern Cross (Crux). Originally named 'Apis' (the Bee), it was renamed to distinguish it from another bee constellation that no longer exists. Lying in the rich star fields of the southern Milky Way, Musca contains several interesting deep-sky objects including globular clusters.
📜 Mythology
Musca was created from observations by Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman during their expedition to the East Indies (1595-1597). It was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598, originally as 'Apis' (the Bee). The name was later changed to 'Musca Australis' (the Southern Fly) to distinguish it from 'Musca Borealis' (a now-obsolete northern fly). When the northern fly was abolished, 'Australis' was dropped, leaving simply 'Musca.'
💡 Facts
- ✦Musca is the only official constellation representing a fly
- ✦The Coalsack Nebula extends from Crux into Musca
- ✦NGC 4833 is a fine globular cluster in Musca, visible in binoculars under dark skies