Musca constellation
Musca is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the fly. It is highest in the sky at midnight around March 29, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 18°N to 90°S.
Musca at a glance
- Represents
- the fly
- Highest at midnight
- March 29
- Highest at 9 pm
- May 13
- Seen whole from
- 18°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 4 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Musca
Musca is highest in the sky at midnight around March 29 and at 9 pm around May 13. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 4:50 a.m. |
| February 15 | 2:50 a.m. |
| March 15 | 1:00 a.m. |
| April 15 | 10:50 p.m. |
| May 15 | 8:50 p.m. |
| June 15 | 6:50 p.m. |
| July 15 | 4:50 p.m. |
| August 15 | 2:50 p.m. |
| September 15 | 12:50 p.m. |
| October 15 | 10:50 a.m. |
| November 15 | 8:50 a.m. |
| December 15 | 6:50 a.m. |
Where to look for Musca
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Musca never rises. You need to be south of 23°N to see any of it.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Musca never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on March 29, 56° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Musca
None of the stars of Musca is brighter than magnitude 2.3, so it is best seen from a dark place away from city lights. Its brightest stick-figure stars are about magnitude 2.
Musca in myth and history
Musca was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Musca
Find Musca in your sky
Questions about Musca
Musca is highest in the sky at midnight around March 29 and at 9 pm around May 13. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Musca rises above the horizon from 18°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 23°N to 90°S.
Musca represents the fly. Musca was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.