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Lyr
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Lyrae
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the Lyre
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19
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40
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286
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52nd
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1
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Vega (&alpha Lyrae)
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003
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Vrhbosna/Alpha_Lyrids" class="copylinks">Alpha Lyrids
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Vrhbosna/Cygnus_(constellation)" class="copylinks">Cygnus
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90
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40
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August
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(
Latin for ''
Lyre '') is one of the 48
Constellations listed by
Ptolemy , and is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the
International Astronomical Union . Lyra is a small constellation, but its principal star,
Vega , is one of the brightest in the sky. Vega forms a vertex of the
Summer Triangle Asterism . Lyra took its name from the
Stringed Musical Instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and still in
Some Areas Of Greece .
According to ancient Greek mythology, the young god Hermes created the lyre from the body of a large tortoise shell (khelus) which he covered with animal hide and antelope horns. Lyres were associated with Apollonian virtues of moderation and equilibrium, contrasting the Dionysian pipes which represented ecstasy and celebration.
Beginning at the north, Lyra is surrounded by the Dragon
Draco , the Greek hero
Hercules , the Little Fox
Vulpecula and
Cygnus the swan.
Here are some of Lyra's brighter stars:
- α Lyr ( Vega ): with an apparent brightness of 0.03m this is the second brightest star of the northern hemisphere (after Arcturus) and the fifth brightest star in all; its spectral class is A0 V and it lies at a distance of only 25.3 ly. Actually it is a multiple star system (5 components). It was the first star to be photographed.
- (3.45m, spectral class B8 II), the Beta-Lyrae-stars.
- γ Lyr (Sulafat): the main star of this multiple star system is of magnitude 3.24m and spectral class B9 III
- δ Lyr: a double star consisting of a blue-white star of mag. 6m and a semi-regular red giant varying between 4m and 5m.
- ε Lyr: a well-known quadruple star, also called "the Double Double" because each of the two brighter components is itself a close double.
- ζ Lyr: another double star which can be split using binoculars.
- .
- at a distance of approximately 32,900 ly with a diameter of about 85 ly. Its apparent brightness is 8.3m.
- e; its integrated magnitude is 8.8m; it is thought to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years old as we see it today.
- ), a Red Dwarf system near 17 Lyrae, but really at 26 l.y. from the Sun. Period: 5 years, magnitude: 11.26 in V band.
Older maps of the sky show a bird, especially a al sign of
Sagittarius (specifically,
Cygnus ,
Aquila and
Sagittarius itself), Lyra may be a significant part of the origin of the myth of the
Stymphalian Birds , one of
The Twelve Labours of
Herakles .
By taking into account nearly parallel lines of fainter stars in the centre of the constellation, it appears to resemble a
Lyre , and consequently Lyra gradually shifted from being considered a vulture to being considered a lyre; for a while, it was even regarded as a vulture holding a lyre. Associated with its identity as a lyre, Lyra was considered to be the lyre used by
Orpheus to produce music that charmed even
Hades , and which was placed into the stars upon his death.
- The constellation Lyra is featured in Gene Brewer 's K-PAX trilogy, in which a patient in a Manhattan mental institution claims to be from the planet K-PAX in the Constellation Lyra.
- The constellation is mentioned in the song by the band Rush , on the 1977 album A Farewell To Kings .
- Lyra was one of four constellations depicted in a )
:Stars with proper names:
- ( 20/η Lyr ) 4.43 ''
- : الأظفر ''al-´uz̧fur'' The talons (of the swooping eagle) μ Lyr
:Stars with Bayer designations:
::
11/δ1 Lyr 5.58;
12/δ2 Lyr 4.22;
6/ζ1 Lyr 4.34;
7/ζ2 Lyr 5.73;
21/θ Lyr 4.35;
18/ι Lyr 5.25;
1/κ Lyr 4.33;
15/λ Lyr 4.94;
9/ν Lyr 5.22;
8/ν1 Lyr 5.93
:Stars with Flamsteed designations:
::
13/R Lyr 4.20 – variable;
16 Lyr 5.00;
17 Lyr 5.20;
19 Lyr 5.93
:Other notable stars:
