What it looks like
Lyra is a compact but striking northern constellation, drawn as the lyre of Orpheus. Its brightest star, Vega, is the fifth-brightest in the night sky and forms one corner of the Summer Triangle. Between two of its fainter stars sits the Ring Nebula, a favourite target for small telescopes.
Brightest stars
Lyra is dominated by Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the sky, with a handful of fainter but distinctive stars around it.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vega (α Lyrae) | +0.03 | 25 ly | The Swooping Eagle |
| Sheliak (β Lyrae) | +3.52 | 960 ly | — |
| Sulafat (γ Lyrae) | +3.24 | 620 ly | — |
| Delta Lyrae | +4.30 | 900 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Lyra is the lyre of Orpheus, whose music could charm animals, trees and even stones.
Orpheus and his lyre
Orpheus was the greatest musician who ever lived, given his lyre by Apollo and taught to play by the Muses. His music could charm wild animals, still rivers, and move rocks and trees. After his wife Eurydice died, he descended to the underworld to bring her back, but lost her when he looked behind him too soon. Later killed by the Maenads, his lyre was placed in the sky by the Muses, alongside his memory as the constellation.
How to find it
Look for brilliant Vega high overhead on summer evenings, one corner of the Summer Triangle with Deneb and Altair.
- Find Vega first — it's the brightest star in the summer sky for northern observers.
- Look between Sheliak and Sulafat to spot the Ring Nebula.
- Best on summer and autumn evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Lyr
- Genitive
- Lyrae
- Meaning
- The Lyre
- Brightest star
- Vega
- Main stars
- 5
- Area rank
- 52nd
- Best visible
- August
- Declination
- +40°
- Meteor showers
- Lyrids, June Lyrids
- Neighbours
- Draco, Hercules, Cygnus, Vulpecula
Deep-sky objects
The Ring Nebula (M57) is a planetary nebula about 2,300 light-years away, visible in small telescopes as a small grey ring. Lyra also contains M56, a globular cluster, and the Double Double (Epsilon Lyrae), a celebrated system of two binary pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Lyra look like?
Lyra is a small northern constellation known as the Lyre, marked by the brilliant star Vega and home to the Ring Nebula and the Lyrids meteor shower.
What is the brightest star in Lyra?
The brightest star in Lyra is Vega, shining at around magnitude 0.03.
When is Lyra best visible?
Lyra is best seen from both hemispheres during August.
What is the story behind Lyra?
In Greek myth, Lyra is the lyre of Orpheus, whose music could charm animals, trees and even stones.
Which constellations are near Lyra?
Lyra borders Draco, Hercules, Cygnus and Vulpecula.
Cygnus
Aquila