Scutum constellation
Scutum (the Shield) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in August. Its brightest star is α Scuti (magnitude 3.85). Scutum covers 109 square degrees and is the 84th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Scutum
Facts
| Latin name | Scutum (genitive: Scuti) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Sct |
| Meaning | the Shield |
| Area | 109 square degrees (84th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 18.7 h, declination −10° |
| Visible from | latitudes 74° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | August (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Scuti |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 19 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | M11, M26 |
| Neighbors | Aquila, Serpens, Sagittarius |
How to find Scutum
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in August evenings: at about 9 pm Scutum stands highest, around 40° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 65° above the horizon. The months before and after (July and September) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Scutum borders Aquila, Serpens and Sagittarius.
Stars of Scutum
Scutum has 19 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | α Scuti | 3.85 | K3-III-IIIb | — |
| — | β Scuti | 4.22 | G4IIa | — |
Deep-sky objects in Scutum
Scutum contains 2 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Wild Duck Cluster (M11): open cluster, 5.8 mag
- Messier 26 (M26): open cluster, 8.9 mag
Printable Scutum map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Scutum figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Scutum is introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1690. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Scutum
What is the brightest star in Scutum?
α Scuti, at magnitude 3.85.
When can you see Scutum?
Scutum is best seen in the evening in August. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 74° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Scutum?
19 stars in Scutum are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; none of them has an official IAU name.
What does Scutum mean?
Scutum means “the Shield” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Sct and the genitive, used in star names such as α Scuti, is Scuti.
