Norma is a small constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere
between Ara and Lupus, one of twelve drawn up in the 18th century by
French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille and one of several depicting
scientific instruments. Its name refers to a right angle in Latin, and
is variously considered to represent a rule, a carpenter's square, a set
square or a level. It remains one of the 88 modern constellations. Four
of Norma's brighter stars make up a square in the field of faint stars.
Gamma2 Normae is the brightest star with an apparent magnitude of 4.0.
Mu Normae is one of the most luminous stars known, but is partially
obscured by distance and cosmic dust. Four star systems are known to
harbour planets. The Milky Way passes through Norma, and the
constellation contains eight open clusters visible to observers with
binoculars. The constellation also hosts Abell 3627, the Norma Cluster,
one of the most massive galaxy clusters known.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_(constellation)>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1381:
During the Peasants' Revolt in England, rebels entered the
Tower of London, killing the Lord Chancellor and the Lord High
Treasurer, whom they found inside.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants%27_Revolt>
1846:
Anglo-American settlers in Sonoma, California, began a
rebellion against Mexico, proclaiming the California Republic and
eventually raising a homemade flag with a bear and star.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Republic>
1888:
The Kingdom of Sarawak, on the northwestern part of the island
of Borneo, was made a British protectorate.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Sarawak>
1940:
Second World War: Four days after the French government fled
Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major accomplishment
in the operation Fall Rot.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_Rot>
2017:
A fire destroyed Grenfell Tower in Notting Hill, London,
killing 72 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenfell_Tower_fire>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
move the goalposts:
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/move_the_goalposts>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Our country is a mess right now and we don't have time to pretend
otherwise. We don't have time to waste on being politically correct.
--Donald Trump
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Donald_Trump>