Lyra
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| Abbreviation: | Lyr |
| Genitive: | Lyrae |
| Symbology: | the Lyre |
| Right ascension: | 19 h |
| Declination: | 40° |
| Area: | 286 sq. deg. (52nd) |
| Main stars: | 5 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 21 |
| Stars with known planets: | 3 |
| Bright stars: | 1 |
| Nearby stars: | 5 |
| Brightest star: | Vega (α Lyrae) (0.03m) |
| Nearest star: | Vega (α Lyrae) (25.27 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 |
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Lyra (IPA: /ˈlʌɪrə/, Latin: 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.
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[edit] Notable features
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. It was the first star to be photographed.
- 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 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.
- RR Lyr: lent its name to a class of pulsating variable stars, the RR Lyrae-stars.
[edit] Notable deep sky objects
- M56: a rather loose globular cluster at a distance of approximately 32,900 ly with a diameter of about 85 ly. Its apparent brightness is 8.3m.
- M57: also known as the "Ring Nebula", this 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: also known as 17 Lyrae C (Gliese 747AB), 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.
[edit] Mythology
Older maps of the sky show a bird, especially a vulture (Vultur cadens), in this position, since in early times the constellation and its stars, were taken to resemble one. [1] As such, together with other constellations in the Zodiacal 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| The 88 modern Constellations |
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| Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula |
![[1]](http://borghetto.astrofili.org/costellazioni/lyra.JPG){kind=link}