Constellation named for a Polish king
2 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight's Sky for Monday, Jul 21 2008
Now that the waning gibbous moon is leaving the early evening sky, look for one of summer’s most beautiful celestial sights. Be sure you are looking in a dark country sky, on a night when the moon is down.
In a dark country sky, you’ll find a hazy pathway stretched across the sky during the late July evening hours. This band is the starlit trail of our own Milky Way galaxy. Looking southward in the evening – toward the richest part of the Milky Way – you’ll find a very small constellation, called Scutum the Shield. It has only has four stars that make up the constellation outline. But it is noticeable in a dark sky because the Milky Way is so rich here.
The Shield is not big, but it provides some very nice views in dark skies with the unaided eye or binoculars. The very noticeable Teapot of Sagittarius is below Scutum. And in 2008 you’ll have the added bonus of Jupiter in this direction of space. Jupiter can help guide your eye to Scutum.
Scutum has a fascinating history. Astronomer Hevelius named it in 1683 for Jan III Sobieski. He was the Polish king that lead his armies to victory in the Battle of Vienna. The constellation in charts of the era resembles the king’s coat of arms on his shield.
Scutum is one of two constellations to be named after real people. Coma Berenices was named for an Egyptian queen.
How is “Scutum” named for “Sobieski”?
I’m not a history expert, but this constellation is named for a Polish king – Sobieski. The word ‘scutum’ means ‘shield.’ So the constellation is seen as Sobieski’s Shield.
Clear skies!
Deborah