Scutum Constellation Myths and Facts

Scutum: The Shield

Pronunciation: SCOOT-um
Scutum, The Shield
Scutum as depicted by Johannes Hevelius in his Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
Scutum Constellation Profile
Abbreviation: Sct Genitive: Scuti
Origin: Hevelius Location: Southern Hemisphere
Best View (North): Summer Best View (South):
Bordering Constellations: Aquila, Serpens Cauda, Sagittarius

The Myth Behind the Constellation Scutum

Scutum, “The Shield” is another modern constellation created by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the late seventeenth century.  Originally it was named Scutum Sobiescanum, “Shield of Sobieski” to honor John Sobieski, the king of Poland, who defeated the Ottoman forces in the Battle of Vienna in 1683.  Later it was shortened to Scutum.

Scutum Constellation Points of Interest

Interesting Objects in the Constellation Scutum
Name Messier NGC Type Visibility
Wild Duck Cluster M11 NGC 6705 Open Cluster Binoculars
M26 NGC 6694 Open Cluster Binoculars

Bright Stars in Scutum

These are no stars in Scutum with a magnitude of 3.0 or brighter.