The Lyra constellation
Lyr · Catalogue stars: 14
Why this name?
The ancient Greeks saw a lyre here, a stringed musical instrument. According to legend, it belonged to Orpheus, whose music enchanted people, animals and even rocks.
A little history
Old European charts sometimes depicted the lyre together with an eagle, combining the Greek instrument with an Arabic bird figure.
Data
- IAU code
- Lyr
- Catalogue stars
- 14
- Messier objects
- 2
- Brightest star
- Vega · 0.0ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 92862 · 4.1ᵐ · M5IIIvar
- HIP 92791 · 4.2ᵐ · M4IIvar
- HIP 89826 · 4.3ᵐ · K2IIIvar
- HIP 91971 · 4.3ᵐ · Am
- HIP 94713 · 4.3ᵐ · K0II
- HIP 91926 · 4.6ᵐ · A8Vn
- HIP 91919 · 4.7ᵐ · F1V
- HIP 92088 · 4.8ᵐ · K3III
- HIP 93279 · 4.9ᵐ · K3III
- HIP 93408 · 5.0ᵐ · A7V
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 67° · never sets | — |
| +55° | 72° · never sets | — |
| +45° | 82° | 32° |
| +30° | 83° | 46° |
| 0° | 53° | 53° |
| −35° | 18° | 43° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 11:06 |
| February | 08:59 |
| March | 07:14 |
| April | 05:21 |
| May | 03:26 |
| June | 01:20 |
| July | 23:16 |
| August | 21:15 |
| September | 19:22 |
| October | 17:33 |
| November | 15:33 |
| December | 13:24 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Lyra?
Vega — 0.0ᵐ.