Lyra

Lyra, the Lyre, is a small but prominent constellation dominated by Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the night sky and part of the Summer Triangle. Vega was the historical reference standard for stellar brightness (magnitude 0). Lyra also contains the Ring Nebula (M57), a famous planetary nebula, and Epsilon Lyrae, a celebrated double-double star system.

The Hercules family includes constellations associated with the legendary strongman and his twelve labors. It is the second-largest constellation family after Ursa Major, encompassing much of the summer sky visible from northern latitudes. Hercules himself is the fifth-largest constellation by area, though none of his stars are brighter than third magnitude — a fitting irony for such a famous figure.

Mythology & History

Heracles (Hercules in Roman tradition) was the greatest of Greek heroes, a son of Zeus known for his extraordinary strength. His twelve labors — from slaying the Nemean Lion to capturing Cerberus — are reflected in several constellations. The constellation Hercules is depicted kneeling, and its central asterism, the Keystone, represents the hero's torso. Associated constellations include Hydra (the multi-headed serpent), Sagitta (the arrow), Lyra (Orpheus's lyre, a fellow Argonaut), and Aquila (Zeus's eagle). Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, was Ariadne's wedding crown placed in the sky by Dionysus.

Observation Tips

Hercules family constellations dominate the summer sky. The Keystone asterism in Hercules contains M13, the Great Hercules Cluster — one of the finest globular clusters in the northern sky, containing over 300,000 stars visible as a fuzzy patch to the naked eye. Lyra hosts Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the sky and a vertex of the Summer Triangle. The Ring Nebula (M57) between Beta and Gamma Lyrae is a favorite planetary nebula for amateur astronomers.

HIP 91674HIP 91675HIP 89762HIP 89764HIP 89765HIP 89771HIP 89774HIP 91717HIP 91789HIP 91790HIP 91793HIP 91794HIP 89891HIP 89895HIP 89900HIP 91861HIP 91863HIP 89998HIP 90059HIP 90060HIP 90061HIP 90063HIP 90072HIP 90079HIP 90080HIP 90084HIP 90117HIP 90170HIP 90177HIP 90273HIP 90283HIP 90314HIP 92249HIP 90520HIP 90524HIP 90525HIP 92479HIP 90531HIP 90533HIP 90537HIP 90540HIP 90612HIP 90622HIP 90627HIP 90636HIP 90681HIP 90689HIP 90693

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lyra constellation?
Lyra (Lyr) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Northern hemisphere. Lyra, the Lyre, is a small but prominent constellation dominated by Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the night sky and part of the Summer Triangle. Vega was the historical reference standard for stel
How many stars are cataloged in Lyra?
StarFYI currently catalogs 954 stars in the constellation Lyra.
What is the brightest star in Lyra?
The brightest star in Lyra is Vega.
How large is the Lyra constellation?
Lyra covers 286.48 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Lyra belong to?
Lyra belongs to the Hercules Family of constellations.