For the Roman shield, see Scutum (shield).

Scutum
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Abbreviation	Sct
Genitive	Scuti
Symbology	the Shield
Right ascension	19 h
Declination	−10°
Area	109 sq. deg. Ranked 84th
Number of stars (magnitude < 3)	0
Brightest star	α Scuti (App. magnitude 3.85)
Meteor showers	June Scutids
Bordering constellations	Aquila Sagittarius Serpens Cauda
Visible at latitudes between +80° and −90° Best visible during the month of August

Scutum (Latin for shield) is a small constellation. It is one of the 88 modern constellations. It was introduced in 1690 by Hevelius. It was originally known as Scutum Sobiescii (Sobieski's Shield) after the Polish king and hero Jan III Sobieski. It is the only constellation that is associated with a modern historical figure.

Contents

1 Notable features 2 Notable deep sky objects 3 Mythology 4 Principal stars 5 Double stars 6 Variable stars 7 See Also

Notable features

Scutum is the fifth smallest of the 88 modern constellations. It has few bright stars (the brightest star, α, is magnitude 3.85), but the summer Milky Way runs through it. The Scutum star cloud can be found in the northeastern corner of the constellation.

Notable deep sky objects

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.

Mythology

Being a modern constellation, Scutum has no mythology associated with it. It was deigned to represent the shield of Jan III Sobieski.

Principal stars

Bayer designation	Other designation	Right Ascension	Declination	Magnitude
ζ		18h 23' 39.5"	-08° 56' 03"	4.68
γ		18h 29' 11.9"	-14° 33' 57"	4.70
α		18h 35' 12.4"	-08° 14' 39"	3.85
δ	ADS 11581	18h 42' 16.4"	-09° 03' 09"	4.72v
ε	ADS 11601	18h 43' 31.3"	-08° 16' 31"	4.90
β		18h 47' 10.5"	-04° 44' 52"	4.22
η		18h 57' 03.7"	-05° 50' 46"	4.83

Source: The Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed.

Double stars

Designation	Right Ascension	Declination	Magnitudes
Struve 2325 (ADS 11414)	18h 31' 25.7"	-10° 47' 45"	5.8, 9.1
δ Sct (ADS 11581)	18h 42' 16.4"	-09° 03' 09"	4.7v, 9.2, 12.2

Variable stars

Designation	Right Ascension	Declination	Range	Period
δ	18h 42' 16.4"	-09° 03' 09"	4.6-4.7	4 hours 40 minutes
R	18h 47' 29.0"	-05° 42' 18"	4.5-8.2	140 days

See Also

Constellations introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 1690 text Firmament urn Sobiescianum

Canes Venatici | Lacerta | Leo Minor | Lynx | Scutum | Sextans | Vulpecula

The 88 modern Constellations

Andromeda | Antlia | Apus | Aquarius | Aquila | Ara | Aries | Auriga | Bo�tes | Caelum | Camelopardalis | Cancer | Canes Venatici | Canis Major | Canis Minor | Capricornus | Carina | Cassiopeia | Centaurus | Cepheus | Cetus | Chamaeleon | Circinus | Columba | Coma Berenices | Corona Australis | Corona Borealis | Corvus | Crater | Crux | Cygnus | Delphinus | Dorado | Draco | Equuleus | Eridanus | Fornax | Gemini | Grus | Hercules | Horologium | Hydra | Hydrus | Indus | Lacerta | Leo | Leo Minor | Lepus | Libra | Lupus | Lynx | Lyra | Mensa | Microscopium | Monoceros | Musca | Norma | Octans | Ophiuchus | Orion | Pavo | Pegasus | Perseus | Phoenix | Pictor | Pisces | Piscis Austrinus | Puppis | Pyxis | Reticulum | Sagitta | Sagittarius | Scorpius | Sculptor | Scutum | Serpens | Sextans | Taurus | Telescopium | Triangulum | Triangulum Australe | Tucana | Ursa Major | Ursa Minor | Virgo | Vela | Volans | Vulpecula

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