ScutumScutum
Particulars:
General:
The constellation of Scutum is being counted to the Hercules
constellation family. Although it is one of the smallest
constellations (in fact the 5th smallest), it is located in a
very interesting part of the sky because next to the Milky Way it
contains rich Milky Way star fields and therefore is also for the
amateur astronomer of interest.
Scutum can be found southwest from Ophiuchus and southeast from
Aquila, the Eagle, just ten degrees south of the celestial
equator.
Stars and other objects
Delta Sct is the prototype of a rare class of variable
stars undergoing small pulsations within the range of a few
hours; this leads to minor changes in the brightness of the star.
The variation have a period of 4h 40min during which the
brightness varies from 4.6 mag to 4.7 mag.
R Sct is a yellow giant variable star of the RV Tauri
type. It varies permanently (and semi-regularly) between 5th and
8th mag.
The "Wild Duck Cluster" M 11 (NGC 6705) is magnificent
in large telescopes.
The faint open cluster M 26 is nice and tight cluster. Detailed
information about this cluster and M11 can be found in the
Messier database.
The diffuse galactic nebula I 1287, lying about two degrees south
of alpha Sct, requires at least an avarage telecopic
power. The meteor shower June Scutids is active from June, 2nd,
to July, 29th. The maximum occurs on June 27th; the hourly rate
is 2 to 4 meteors. See Gary Kronks database about meteor showers
for detailed information.