$YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ thin films have been prepared on MgO(100)substrates placed on-axis to the target by dc magnetron sputtering in a variety of oxygen/argon gas pressures with different substrate-target distances. We found that films with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate deposited in an optimally high gas pressure with on-axis substrate-target configuration do. Increasing the substrate-target distance was found to be effetive in reducing the resputtering effect and enhancing superconductivity of films, but not so much $alpha$-and c-axis growth of YMCO films on MgO substrates. Dependences of the Tc, the rationj of resistances at 300K and 100K, and the X-ray diffraction pattern on the gas pressure and the substrate target distance are described.