Being kids and even after growing up whenever we look up at the sky during the night the things we search there are the constellations. They are captivating and catch be spotted quickly if found. The collections of shining stars in a particular shape that lures you to look towards them continuously, that’s something obvious. There millions and trillions of constellations in the sky. The ones which are visible from earth have got specific names according to their shapes and number of stars contained within them.
What are constellations?
Constellations are the grouped stars which have been considered to have imaginary outlines in a particular pattern or shape. Typically, it represents animals, creatures, devices or mythological gods.
You can spot various constellations each of them has their characteristics. In mythologies also constellations have conquered a stipulated place. They had features and named as per their structures. Here, you can read about one of the constellations present in the sky that is known by the name Musca.
About Musca
Musca is a small constellation which can be spotted in the southern sky near to Crux or Southern Cross. In Latin, this constellation is named as a fly.
This constellation was discovered or assumed by a Dutch astronomer whose name is Petrus Plancius in. This was discovered in late 16th century based upon the observations and conclusions made under two Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman during their voyage towards east Indies which is in Southeast Asia.
The brightest star of this constellation is Alpha Muscae which is a whitish blue subdwarf that is located 315 light years away from the Earth. This visual magnitude with which it shines is 2.69.
This constellation has been ranked at 77th position amongst all of the 88 total numbers of constellations which have been recognized till date. This one is the smallest of all the constellations. It is visible properly from earth at +10 degree and – 90-degree latitude. This can be seen from earth clearly in May. This constellation is bordered over containing Apus, Centaurus, Carina, Crux, Circinus, and Chamaelon.
This constellation is the part of Johann Bayer family which includes the constellation which is named after animals. This family includes Dorado, Apus, Indus, Tucana, Volans, Chamaeleon, Grus, and Hydrus.
All about principal stars of this constellation are named:
- Alpha Muscae
This one is the brightest of all the stars in this constellation which is 315 light years away from our solar system. It possesses radius which is 4.8 times of our sun and is known to 4000 times brighter than the sun.
- Beta Muscae
It is 340 light years with 3.05 visual magnitude
- Delta Muscae
It is eight times bigger than the sun and is 91 light years away from our solar system.
Nebulae in this Musca constellation are described below:
Spiral Planetary
The visual magnitude of this nebula is 8.2. Its shape is like S. this is three light years wide which is located 3000 light years away from earth. It has an unusual shape with its central dying dwarf star that has a binary companion which is influenced by the pattern from gases and the radiations which are ejected from it.
Dark Doodad
It is of 30 light-years wide and is located at about 700 light years away from our solar system. It is one of the nearest closest stellar from earth.
Hourglass Nebula
This nebula is 8000 light-years far with 13 visual magnitudes. It is referred to as an eye of god due to the kind of structure and shapes it posses.