the lyre · pronounced LYE-ruh. Lyra is a compact northern constellation dominated by Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky and a vertex of the Summer Triangle. The small parallelogram beside Vega represents the frame of a lyre in the classical tradition. Despite its size, Lyra contains benchmark objects: the eclipsing binary Sheliak, the Double Double Epsilon Lyrae, globular cluster M56 and the Ring Nebula M57. The annual Lyrid meteors appear to radiate from its Hercules-facing border.
About Lyra
Lyra is one of the 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Its standard three-letter abbreviation is Lyr, and astronomers use the genitive form Lyrae when naming stars associated with it. The constellation's reference position lies around right ascension -5.4 hours and declination +30 degrees.
Its location places it in the northern sky. For a typical mid-latitude observer, this part of the celestial sphere is especially well placed during summer evenings. Exact visibility depends on latitude, local horizon, date and time.
History and mythology of Lyra
From a bird to the lyre of Orpheus
Mesopotamian and early Mediterranean interpretations of these stars included a bird or vulture. Greek tradition associated the figure with a lyre, especially the instrument of Orpheus, and Ptolemy included Lyra among his 48 constellations.
Vega and the celestial pole
Earth’s axial precession means Vega was nearer the north celestial pole around 12,000 BCE and will approach it again in the distant future. It is not currently a pole star, despite sometimes misleading summaries.
Stars that changed astronomy
Sheliak became a prototype for interacting eclipsing binaries, while Epsilon Lyrae is a classic hierarchical multiple. M57 helped establish planetary nebulae as a recognizable class even though they have nothing to do with planets.
The modern astronomical region
The IAU adopted the three-letter abbreviation and standard constellation name in 1922. Eugène Delporte then published the coordinate boundaries in 1930, turning the inherited figure into an exact address for cataloguing every object inside it.
How to find Lyra
- Find the Summer Triangle. Vega is its brightest vertex, with Deneb in Cygnus and Altair in Aquila completing the much larger asterism.
- Immediately southeast of Vega, locate the small parallelogram formed by Sheliak, Sulafat, Zeta and Delta Lyrae.
- June through October evenings are ideal in the Northern Hemisphere. Lyra is circumpolar from some high northern latitudes but low from far-southern regions.
- Aim between Sheliak and Sulafat to find M57. At low power it resembles an out-of-focus star; moderate magnification shows the famous smoke-ring form.
Bright stars in Lyra
Vega (Alpha Lyrae)
Notable star- Magnitude
- 0.03
- Distance
- about 25 light-years
A nearby white main-sequence star, photometric standard and one of the first stars photographed and spectroscopically recorded.
Sheliak (Beta Lyrae)
Notable star- Magnitude
- about 3.25–4.36 variable
- Distance
- about 960 light-years
The prototype Beta Lyrae eclipsing binary, where distorted stars exchange material and produce continuously changing light.
Sulafat (Gamma Lyrae)
Notable star- Magnitude
- 3.25
- Distance
- about 620 light-years
A luminous blue-white giant marking the southeastern corner of Lyra’s parallelogram.
Epsilon Lyrae (Double Double)
Notable star- Magnitude
- 4.7 combined
- Distance
- about 162 light-years
A celebrated hierarchical multiple: binoculars split two wide stars, and a telescope resolves each into a close pair.
Deep-sky objects in Lyra
Messier 57 (Ring Nebula)
An expanding shell expelled by a dying Sun-like star. Its apparent elliptical ring is bright enough for small telescopes, while deep images reveal a much larger halo.
Messier 56
A compact Milky Way halo cluster roughly 33,000 light-years away, appearing as a small haze in modest telescopes and resolving with larger aperture.
NGC 6745
A collision between galaxies whose gravitational encounter triggered intense star formation; Hubble images show a highly distorted structure.
Meteor showers associated with Lyra
Lyrids
Peak: around 21–22 AprilA long-observed annual shower produced by debris from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Typical rates are moderate, with occasional outbursts.
Interesting facts about Lyra
- Lyra's name means the lyre. Mesopotamian and early Mediterranean interpretations of these stars included a bird or vulture.
- Vega (Alpha Lyrae) is listed at magnitude 0.03. A nearby white main-sequence star, photometric standard and one of the first stars photographed and spectroscopically recorded.
- Messier 57 (Ring Nebula) is a planetary nebula. An expanding shell expelled by a dying Sun-like star.
- The Lyrids meteor shower is associated with this sky area and peaks around 21–22 April. A long-observed annual shower produced by debris from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.