Norma
Level (Normae)
Norma, the Carpenter's Square, is a small, faint southern constellation created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. It lies in a rich part of the Milky Way between Lupus and Ara, near the star-rich region around Scorpius. Despite its dim stars, Norma contains numerous clusters and nebulae visible in telescopes.
📜 Mythology
Norma is a modern constellation with no classical mythology. It was created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope (1751-1752). Originally named 'Norma et Regula' (the Carpenter's Square and Rule), it represents the L-shaped tool used by carpenters and builders. When constellation boundaries were standardized in 1930, Norma lost two of its brightest stars (alpha and beta) to Scorpius, leaving it particularly faint.
💡 Facts
- ✦Norma has no alpha or beta star - they were reassigned to Scorpius in 1930
- ✦The constellation lies on the galactic plane and contains many open clusters
- ✦NGC 6067 is a beautiful open cluster in Norma sometimes compared to the 'Wild Duck Cluster'