Why do observers in the mid-to-high northern latitudes struggle to observe UY Scuti?
Answer
Scutum never rises very high above the southern horizon
A significant constraint for observers located in mid-to-high northern latitudes (like those in the continental US, Canada, or Europe) is the southern location of the constellation Scutum. Because Scutum remains low in the southern sky—sometimes not rising at all depending on the time of year—the light from UY Scuti must travel through a considerably thicker section of Earth’s atmosphere. This increased atmospheric extinction further dims the already faint signal, making observation technically difficult even with optical equipment.
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