Scutum facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Scutum
|
|
| Abbreviation | Sct |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Scuti |
| Pronunciation | genitive |
| Symbolism | the Shield |
| Right ascension | 18.7 |
| Declination | −10 |
| Quadrant | SQ4 |
| Area | 109 sq. deg. (84th) |
| Main stars | 2 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
7 |
| Stars with planets | 1 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 0 |
| Brightest star | α Scuti (3.85m) |
| Messier objects | 2 |
| Meteor showers | June Scutids |
| Bordering constellations |
Aquila Sagittarius Serpens Cauda |
| Visible at latitudes between +80° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of August. |
|
Scutum is a small constellation in the southern sky. A constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the night sky. People often imagine these patterns as shapes or figures. The name "Scutum" is Latin for "the Shield." This constellation was named in the 17th century by an astronomer named Johannes Hevelius. He named it after the shield of King John III Sobieski of Poland.
Stars in Scutum
The Scutum constellation might be small, but it has some interesting stars. Here are a few of them:
- Alpha Scuti: This is the brightest star in Scutum. It shines with a magnitude of 3.85, which means it's fairly easy to see with your eyes on a clear night.
- Delta Scuti: This star is special because it is a variable star. This means its brightness changes over time. Scientists study stars like Delta Scuti to learn more about how stars work.
- R Scuti: Another variable star, R Scuti is a red giant. It changes its brightness in a very noticeable way, making it interesting for stargazers.
Deep-Sky Objects
Even though Scutum is small, it is home to some amazing deep-sky objects. These are objects beyond our solar system, like star clusters and nebulae.
- Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11 or M11): This is an open star cluster. It looks a bit like a flock of ducks in flight, which is how it got its nickname! It contains thousands of stars.
- Messier 26 (M26): This is another open star cluster in Scutum. It's not as dense as the Wild Duck Cluster, but it's still a beautiful group of stars to observe.
Meteor Showers
Scutum is also linked to a meteor shower called the June Scutids. Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through a trail of dust left by a comet or asteroid. When these dust particles hit our atmosphere, they burn up, creating streaks of light we call meteors or "shooting stars." The June Scutids are active in June, as their name suggests.
The Shield's Name
The constellation Scutum is named after a shield. This name was given to honor King John III Sobieski's victory in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. The images below show different types of historical shields, like the Roman scutum, which was a large rectangular shield used by Roman soldiers. These images help us understand the kind of shield the constellation was named after.
Images for kids
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Scutum found at Dura Europos
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Reproduction of an Iberian scutum
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Reenactment of an early imperial legionary shield array
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The testudo performed during a siege, as shown on Trajan's Column. There are faint eagle-wing and thunderbolt motifs on the scuta.
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A selection of shield designs from the Notitia Dignitatum, with each shield representing a different unit.
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See also
In Spanish: Scutum (escudo) para niños
