Lyra constellation
Lyra (the Lyre) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in August. Its brightest star is Vega (magnitude 0.03). Lyra covers 287 square degrees and is the 52nd-largest of the 88 constellations.
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How to find Lyra, step by step
Vega and a small parallelogram.
- On summer evenings look almost straight up (from mid-northern latitudes) for Vega, the brightest star in that part of the sky and the brightest corner of the Summer Triangle.
- Next to Vega a small parallelogram of fainter stars, with Sheliak and Sulafat at its far end, forms the lyre.
- Between Sheliak and Sulafat lies the Ring Nebula (M57), visible in a small telescope.
Detailed star map of Lyra
Facts
| Latin name | Lyra (genitive: Lyrae) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Lyr |
| Meaning | the Lyre |
| Area | 287 square degrees (52nd of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 18.9 h, declination +37° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 42° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | August (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Vega |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 37 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 4 |
| Messier objects | M56, M57 |
| Neighbors | Cygnus, Draco, Hercules, Vulpecula |
How to find Lyra
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in August evenings: at about 9 pm Lyra stands highest, around 87° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 18° above the horizon. The months before and after (July and September) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Lyra borders Cygnus, Draco, Hercules and Vulpecula.
Asterisms with stars in Lyra: Summer Triangle.
Stars of Lyra
Lyra has 37 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vega | α Lyrae | 0.03 | A0Va | 25 ly |
| Sulafat | γ Lyrae | 3.24 | B9III | 657 ly |
| Sheliak | β Lyrae | 3.45 | B8IIpe | 1,080 ly |
| — | 13 Lyrae | 4.04 | M5III | — |
| — | δ2 Lyrae | 4.3 | M4II | — |
| — | κ Lyrae | 4.33 | K2IIIabCN0.5 | — |
| — | ζ1 Lyrae | 4.36 | A4m | — |
| — | θ Lyrae | 4.36 | K0+II | — |
| Aladfar | η Lyrae | 4.39 | B2.5IV | 858 ly |
Deep-sky objects in Lyra
Lyra contains 2 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 56 (M56): globular cluster, 8.1 mag
- Ring Nebula (M57): planetary nebula, 8.8 mag
Printable Lyra map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Lyra figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Lyra is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Lyra
What is the brightest star in Lyra?
Vega, at magnitude 0.03, about 25 light-years away.
When can you see Lyra?
Lyra is best seen in the evening in August. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 42° S.
How many stars are in Lyra?
37 stars in Lyra are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 4 of them have official IAU names.
What does Lyra mean?
Lyra means “the Lyre” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Lyr and the genitive, used in star names such as α Lyrae, is Lyrae.
