Where Is UY Scuti Located in the Milky Way?

Updated on September 11, 2025 | By Jameswebb Discovery Editorial Team 

Exploring the constellation Scutum, the Sagittarius Arm, and the galactic home of the red supergiant UY Scuti.

The Milky Way is home to hundreds of billions of stars, but only a handful ever capture our imagination. One of these is UY Scuti, a red supergiant so large it makes our Sun look almost insignificant. While most discussions about UY Scuti focus on its size, an equally fascinating question is: where exactly is this colossal star found in our galaxy?

A Quick Overview of UY Scuti’s Position

• Constellation: Scutum, “the Shield”

• Distance from Earth: Roughly 9,500 light-years

• Galactic Setting: In the Sagittarius Arm, not far from the Milky Way’s center

• Coordinates: About Galactic Longitude 28°, Latitude −0.6°
  
  

UY Scuti and the Constellation Scutum

UY Scuti lies within the constellation Scutum, a small patch of sky that sits in the rich star fields of the Milky Way. Scutum is not among the brightest or most famous constellations, but astronomers value it for the dense clusters and clouds of stars it contains.

In this region lies the Scutum Star Cloud, a dense stretch of the Milky Way visible even with binoculars. UY Scuti itself is faint to the naked eye, hidden by dust and gas, but with powerful telescopes, astronomers can pinpoint its presence near the heart of the galaxy.

How Far Away Is UY Scuti?

Based on measurements from the Gaia spacecraft and ground-based observatories, UY Scuti is estimated to be about 9,500 light-years away. That means the light we see from this star began its journey to Earth nearly ten thousand years ago, around the time when human civilizations were first developing agriculture.

This immense distance explains why such a gigantic star still appears faint to us—its brilliance is heavily dimmed by the thick clouds of dust between us and the constellation Scutum.

Its Place in the Galactic Structure

The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, with several sweeping arms curling outward from its center. UY Scuti resides in the Sagittarius Arm, a star-rich region close to the galactic core. This arm is known for being a stellar nursery, full of nebulae and young clusters where massive stars like UY Scuti are born.

Locating UY Scuti here tells astronomers a lot about its origins. Stars of its size form only in dense, active regions of the galaxy, and its current stage as a red supergiant gives researchers clues about the fate of similar stars.

Why Its Location Matters

Knowing exactly where UY Scuti is in the galaxy isn’t just trivia—it’s crucial for astrophysics.

1. Understanding Stellar Evolution
   Stars like UY Scuti burn through fuel rapidly. Studying its position helps astronomers connect its current state with the environment it formed in.
   
   

2. Improving Galactic Maps
   Every precise measurement adds to our understanding of the Milky Way’s structure. Pinpointing UY Scuti helps refine models of the Sagittarius Arm.
   
   

3. Preparing for Its Supernova
   UY Scuti will eventually explode in a supernova. By knowing where it sits in the Milky Way, astronomers can better predict how this event will appear to us when it happens.
   
   

Observing UY Scuti Today

Despite its massive size, UY Scuti is invisible to the unaided eye. Even backyard telescopes won’t bring it into view. Instead, astronomers rely on infrared observations to see through the dust clouds surrounding Scutum.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is especially powerful in this area. With its infrared vision, Webb allows researchers to peer past the dust and refine measurements of UY Scuti’s distance, brightness, and evolution.

Common Questions About UY Scuti’s Location

Can you see UY Scuti from Earth?
No. It is far too distant and obscured by dust to be visible without professional observatories.

Is UY Scuti near the center of the Milky Way?
Yes, it lies relatively close, in the Sagittarius Arm, one of the spiral arms nearest the galactic core.

How accurate are its distance estimates?
The most widely accepted estimate is about 9,500 light-years, though small variations exist as new data becomes available.

Will its supernova affect Earth?
Not at all. UY Scuti is far enough away that when it eventually explodes, the event will be a spectacular show in the sky but pose no danger to our planet.

Conclusion

UY Scuti is not only one of the largest known stars—it is also an anchor point for understanding the Milky Way’s layout. Found in the constellation Scutum, around 9,500 light-years away, and nestled in the Sagittarius Arm, it gives astronomers a window into how massive stars live and die near the galaxy’s bustling center.

When UY Scuti finally ends its life in a supernova, the fact that we know exactly where it sits will make observing the event one of the most important astronomical moments in human history.