Lyra constellation
Lyra is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Vega. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.
- Summerbest seen
- Vegabrightest star, magnitude 0.0
- LyrLyra
How to find the constellation Lyra
Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky and a corner of the Summer Triangle. In summer at mid-northern latitudes it climbs high, almost overhead. The constellation itself is a small parallelogram next to Vega.
Best seen in summer: in August around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 75°.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | never sets — visible all year round |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegaα Lyrae | 0.0 | bluish white | about 25 light years |
| Sulafatγ Lyrae | 3.3 | bluish white | — |
| Sheliakβ Lyrae | 3.5 | bluish white | — |
| 13 Lyrae | 4.1 | orange | — |
| δ² Lyrae | 4.2 | orange | — |
| κ Lyrae | 4.3 | orange | — |
| Nasr Alwakiζ¹ Lyrae | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
| θ Lyrae | 4.3 | orange | — |
| Aladfarη Lyrae | 4.4 | blue | — |
| ε² Lyrae | 4.6 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Lyra in the sky?
Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky and a corner of the Summer Triangle. In summer at mid-northern latitudes it climbs high, almost overhead. The constellation itself is a small parallelogram next to Vega.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Lyra?
In summer: in August around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra?
Vega: magnitude 0.0, bluish white. Distance: about 25 light years.
How many stars are there in the constellation Lyra?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 37 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.