(s 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
Apollo nian 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 () and the fifth brightest star in all; its spectral class is A0 V and it lies at a distance of only 25.3 ly. 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.
In
Australian Aboriginal Astronomy , Lyra is known by the
Boorong people in
Victoria as the
Mallee -fowl constellation.
- The constellation Lyra is featured as the location of the home-planet of "prot" in the movie K-PAX .
- The main character in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy is called Lyra.
- The star Vega in the constellation Lyra is featured in the movie Contact as the origination point of an extra-terrestrial signal.
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Collins Stars and Planets Guide'', HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.
