What it looks like
Scutum is a small, faint southern constellation introduced by Hevelius in 1687 to honour King John III Sobieski of Poland. Although its stars are dim, the constellation sits in one of the brightest parts of the Milky Way — the Scutum Star Cloud — and contains the spectacular open cluster M11, the Wild Duck Cluster.
Brightest stars
Scutum has no bright stars; its brightest, Alpha Scuti, sits near magnitude 3.8.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Scuti | +3.85 | 174 ly | — |
| Beta Scuti | +4.22 | 690 ly | — |
| Delta Scuti | +4.70 | 187 ly | — |
| Eta Scuti | +4.83 | 207 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Scutum has no ancient mythology. It was created by Hevelius in 1687 as 'Scutum Sobiescianum' — the Shield of Sobieski — in honour of King John III of Poland after his victory at Vienna.
The shield of the king
Scutum was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in 1687 as 'Scutum Sobiescianum' — the Shield of Sobieski — in honour of King John III Sobieski of Poland, whose cavalry charge at the Battle of Vienna in 1683 had turned back the Ottoman army. It was the first constellation to commemorate a real historical event and a real living person. Hevelius also used the constellation to fill a gap in the Milky Way between Aquila and Sagittarius, and its position in the Scutum Star Cloud makes it unusually rich in star clusters for such a small constellation.
How to find it
Look for the Scutum Star Cloud — a bright patch of Milky Way — between Aquila and Sagittarius on summer evenings.
- Find Altair in Aquila, then look south along the Milky Way.
- The Wild Duck Cluster (M11) is visible in binoculars.
- Best on summer evenings from both hemispheres.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Sct
- Genitive
- Scuti
- Meaning
- The Shield
- Brightest star
- Alpha Scuti
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 84th
- Best visible
- August
- Declination
- -10°
- Meteor showers
- June Scutids
- Neighbours
- Aquila, Sagittarius, Serpens Cauda
Deep-sky objects
The Wild Duck Cluster (M11) is one of the richest and densest open clusters in the sky, containing thousands of stars. The constellation also contains M26, another open cluster, and lies entirely within the Scutum Star Cloud — one of the brightest regions of the Milky Way.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Scutum look like?
Scutum is a small southern constellation known as the Shield, sitting in a bright star cloud of the Milky Way and home to the Wild Duck Cluster (M11).
What is the brightest star in Scutum?
The brightest star in Scutum is Alpha Scuti, shining at around magnitude 3.85.
When is Scutum best visible?
Scutum is best seen from both hemispheres during August.
What is the story behind Scutum?
Scutum has no ancient mythology. It was created by Hevelius in 1687 as 'Scutum Sobiescianum' — the Shield of Sobieski — in honour of King John III of Poland after his victory at Vienna.
Which constellations are near Scutum?
Scutum borders Aquila, Sagittarius and Serpens Cauda.
Aquila
Sagittarius