of the Sun. Scutum contains several clusters of supergiant stars, including RSGC1, Stephenson 2 (which contains Stephenson 2 DFK 1) and RSGC3. Deep sky objects Although not a large constellation, Scutum contains several open clusters, as well as a globular cluster and a planetary nebula. The two best known deep sky objects in Scutum are M11 (the Wild Duck Cluster) and the open cluster M26 (NGC 6694). The globular cluster NGC 6712 and the planetary nebula IC 1295 can be found in the eastern part of the constellation, only 24 arcminutes apart. The most prominent open cluster in Scutum is the Wild Duck Cluster, M11. It was named by William Henry Smyth in 1844 for its resemblance in the eyepiece to a flock of ducks in flight. The cluster, 6200 light-years from Earth and 20 light-years in diameter, contains approximately 3000 stars, making it a particularly rich cluster. It is around 220 million years old, although some studies give older estimates. Estimates for the mass of the star cluster range from to . Space exploration The space probe Pioneer 11 is moving in the direction of this constellation. It will not near the closest star in this constellation for over a million years at its present speed, by which time its batteries will be long dead. See also Scutum (Chinese astronomy) Taurus Poniatovii - a constellation created by the Polish astronomer Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt in 1777 to honor King of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski. References Sources Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2017). Stars and Planets Guide (5th ed.), Collins, London. . Princeton University Press, Princeton. . External links The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Scutum Southern constellations Constellations listed by Johannes Hevelius