Constellation · Mus
Musca
The Fly
A small southern constellation just south of the Southern Cross.
Magnitude 2.69
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (spring in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Can you see Musca from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Musca |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Never rises |
| 20°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Musca
When is Musca best seen?
Musca stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in May. That makes spring evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Musca?
The brightest star in Musca is Alpha Muscae, magnitude 2.69.
Where on Earth can you see Musca?
The whole of Musca can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 14°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Musca mean?
Musca is Latin for "the Fly". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.