Lyra

Lyra

Constellation
List of stars in Lyra
Abbreviation	Lyr
Genitive	Lyrae
Pronunciation	/ˈlaɪrə/, genitive /ˈlaɪriː/
Symbolism	the Lyre
Right ascension	19
Declination	+40
Area	286 sq. deg. (52nd)
Main stars	5
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	25
Stars with known planets	5
Bright stars	1
Nearby stars	5
Brightest star	Vega (α Lyrae) (0.03m)
Nearest star	2MASS J18353790+3259545 (18.5 ly)
Messier objects	2
Meteor showers	Lyrids June Lyrids Alpha Lyrids
Bordering constellations	Draco Hercules Vulpecula Cygnus
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −40°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of August. [1]

Lyra (from Greek λύρα) is a constellation. Its name derived from the lyre, a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in classical antiquity and later. Lyra was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union today. Lyra is a small constellation, but its principal star, Vega, is one of the brightest in the sky. Beginning at the north, Lyra is bordered by the Dragon Draco, the Greek hero Hercules, the little fox Vulpecula and Cygnus the swan.^[2]

This constellation is visible from the northern hemisphere from spring through autumn, and is nearly overhead during the summer months. From the southern hemisphere, this constellation is visible low in the southern sky during the winter months.

Vega is also part of the asterism known as the Summer Triangle, consisting of the brightest stars in the constellations Lyra, Aquila, and Cygnus.

Notable features

An image showing Lyra

Stars

See also: List of stars in Lyra

Lyra's brightest stars include the following:^[2]

• 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.
• β Lyr (Sheliak): a group of eclipsing binaries is named after this variable star (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 ? and ?.
• ε Lyr: a well-known quadruple star, also called "the Double Double" because each of the two brighter components is a double star.
• ζ Lyr: another double star which can be split using binoculars.
• RR Lyr: lends its name to a class of pulsating variable RR Lyrae-stars.

Deep sky objects

In Lyra can be found the objects M56, M57, and Kuiper 90. M56 is a rather loose globular cluster at a distance of approximately 32,900 light-years, with a diameter of about 85 light years. Its apparent brightness is 8.3m. M57 is also known as the "Ring Nebula". It is one of the best known of all planetary nebulae; its integrated magnitude is 8.8m. It is thought to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years old as we see it today. Kuiper 90 is also known as 17 Lyrae C (Gliese 747AB), a red dwarf system near 17 Lyrae, but really at 26 light years from the Sun. Its period is 5 years, and its magnitude is 11.26 in the V band.^[2] BD +36 3317[1], a white star in the young open cluster Stephenson 1, was discovered as a binary eclipsing system by Violat-Bordonau in 2008.

History

In the past, Lyra was often represented on star maps as a vulture or an eagle carrying a lyre, either enclosed in its wings, or in its beak. It was sometimes referred to as Aquila Cadens or Vultur Cadens (falling eagle or falling vulture).^[3]

Mythology

In Greek mythology, Lyra was associated with the myth of Orpheus, the musician who was killed by the Bacchantes. After his death, his lyre was thrown into the river; Zeus sent an eagle to retrieve the lyre, and ordered both of them to be placed in the sky.

Lyra is known as King Arthur's Harp (Talyn Arthur), and King David's harp[2].

It was known to the Romans as Tympanum (drum), and Canticum (song)[3].

It has been seen as a violin, and cymbals.

The Persian Hafiz called it the Lyre of Zurah[4].

It has been called the Manger of the Infant Saviour, Praesepe Salvatoris [5].

In Australian Aboriginal Astronomy, Lyra is known by the Boorong people in Victoria as the Malleefowl constellation.^[4]

Lyra was known as Urcuchillay by the Incas and was worshipped as an animal deity.^[5][6]

Fictional references

In the film K-PAX, the constellation of Lyra is the location of the planet K-PAX, which is an inhabited world that orbits twin stars and has seven moons.

Lyra's main star, Vega, is the scenario of, or referred to in, many fiction stories. See Vega in fiction for more details.

In the novel Out Stealing Horses by Norwegian author Per Petterson, Lyra is the name of the main character's dog.

Lyra Belacqua is the principal character in the Philip Pullman fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials.

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lyra

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Lyra.

Coordinates: 19^h 00^m 00^s, +40° 00′ 00″