Constellation | |
List of stars in Scutum |
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Abbreviation | Sct |
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Genitive | Scuti |
Pronunciation | /ˈskjuːtəm/, genitive /ˈskjuːtaɪ/ |
Symbolism | the Shield |
Right ascension | 18.7 h |
Declination | −10° |
Quadrant | SQ4 |
Area | 109 sq. deg. (84th) |
Main stars | 2 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
7 |
Stars with planets | 1 |
Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 0 |
Brightest star | α Scuti (3.85m) |
Nearest star | LHS 3398 (41.54 ly, 12.74 pc) |
Messier objects | 2 |
Meteor showers | June Scutids |
Bordering constellations |
Aquila Sagittarius Serpens Cauda |
Visible at latitudes between +80° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of August. |
Scutum is a small constellation introduced in the seventeenth century. Its name is Latin for shield.
Contents |
Scutum is the only constellation that owes its name to a non-classical historical figure. It was created in 1684 by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius[1] (Jan Heweliusz), who originally named it Scutum Sobiescianum (Shield of Sobieski) to commemorate the victory of the Polish forces led by King John III Sobieski (Jan III Sobieski) in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. Later, the name was shortened to Scutum.
Scutum contains several open clusters, as well as a globular cluster and a planetary nebula. The two best known deep sky objects in Scutum are M11 (NGC 6705), the Wild Duck Cluster, a dense open cluster, and M26, another open cluster also known as NGC 6694. The globular cluster NGC 6712 and the planetary nebula IC 1295 can be found in the eastern part of the constellation, only 24 arcminutes apart.
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