The Shield
| Abbreviation: | Sct |
| Genitive: | Scuti |
| Origin: | Johannes Hevelius, 1684 |
| Fully Visible: | 90°S – 74°N |
German/Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611–1687) announced the creation of this constellation in the August 1684 edition of the scientific journal Acta Eruditorum. Originally named Scutum Sobiescianum (the Shield of Sobieski), it commemorates the victory over the Ottoman Empire by Polish King John Ⅲ Sobieski in the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
Notable Features
| Visible Named Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| The brightest star in the constellation, α Sct, is fourth-magnitude. None of the visible stars in this constellation have an official name. | ||
| Other Interesting Stars | ||
| δ Sct | Although this star has no common name, it is a famous variable star and the prototype of an entire class of objects called δ Scuti stars. These stars exhibit small fluctuations in brightness over short (a few hours) time periods. | |
| Deep Sky Objects | ||
| M11 | Wild Duck Cluster | This open cluster is one of the richest of the known open clusters and is visible in binoculars. |
| M26 | A telescope is necessary to see this very young, faint open cluster. | |
Copyright © 1995–2023 by L.M. Stockman and David Harper