Lyra, a small constellation found in the northern sky, is a pattern of stars that has stirred the imaginations of stargazers since the age of antiquity.
Of all the 88 official constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Lyra is the only instrument constellation. Full of Greek Mythology and notable celestial objects, we’ll cover the essentials of this unique constellation, from its myth and lore of ancient times to its significant ties to astronomy and how you can easily find and enjoy the celestial musical harp in the night sky!
Key Takeaways
- The constellation is associated with the Greek myth of Orpheus and his enchanting golden lyre.
- Lyra belongs to the Hercules family of constellations and was first cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century.
- Lyra is the 52nd largest constellation, occupying an area of 286 square degrees in the northern sky.
- The constellation is home to six formally named stars, including the brilliant Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky.
- Lyra contains fascinating celestial objects, such as messier objects the Ring Nebula (M57), and the globular cluster M56, along with the famous “Double Double” star system (ε Lyrae).
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How the Celestial Harp
Made It Into the Heavens:
The Myth
The myth behind the constellation Lyra has its origins tied to a musician and poet in Greek mythology named Orpheus and his magical instrument, the lyre, today more commonly known as a harp.
It’s no surprise that Orpheus would have an otherworldly talent as a musician. He was the son of Apollo, the god of the arts and music, and Calliope, the muse of epic poetry.
temple honoring Apollo and Calliope.
His father, Apollo, recognized Orpheus’s natural ability and wanted to be sure he had an instrument equal to his extraordinary talent. Apollo commissioned Hermes, the messenger god, a skilled craftsman, to build a lyre worthy of his son.
Hermes constructed the lyre from a tortoise shell, stretching strings across its hollowed-out shell until it resulted in a beautifully tuned instrument.
for Apollo’s son Orpheus.
This lyre was like no other. It had a magical quality that when Orpheus played it, his enchanting melodies could calm the wildest beast, make the trees bend and sway, move stones, and even influence the course of mighty rivers.
Orpheus’s musical abilities were known far and wide throughout the land and heavens.
soothing the wild animals.
While traveling and playing his magical lyre he met and fell in love with a forest nymph named Eurydice. They married, sharing blissful days until one tragic morning while walking along a meadow, a snake struck Eurydice on the ankle, quickly taking her life and sending Orpheus into a state of deep despair.
His grief was so profound that Orpheus was determined to bring her back from the land of the dead, something no mortal had ever done. Armed with his lyre and his heart full of love, he descended into the underworld, a realm ruled by Hades and Persephone.
When Orpheus began to play his lyre, his music was so sorrowful it moved everyone in the Underworld to tears. Hades and Persephone were deeply touched by his music and unwavering love for Eurydice.
They agreed to let her return to the living world with him on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they had both completely exited the Underworld.
The path out was long and dark. Orpheus could not see nor hear Eurydice following behind him.
Just as he was about to step into the sunlight, Orpheus’s doubt and longing overcame him. Perhaps he had been fooled!? Desperate to know if Eurydice was still there, he turned to look back.
The moment he did, Eurydice began to fade away, whispering a final farewell as she was pulled back into the depths of the Underworld. Orpheus’s heartbreak was now complete, as he had lost her for the second and final time.
Orpheus became despondent and withdrew from the world. He wandered the land, playing mournful songs on his lyre, avoiding the company of others.
His grief-stricken music, however, offended the Maenads, female followers of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. In a frenzied state, they attacked Orpheus, tearing him apart in a wild rage, throwing his lyre and head into the river.
by John William Waterhouse (c.1900)
Eventually, the nymphs and muses, who loved Orpheus dearly, retrieved his harp and gathered his remains, burying them at the foot of Mount Olympus.
Zeus, inspired by the tragedy and talent of Orpheus, placed his lyre among the stars, creating the constellation Lyra and ensuring that his music would be remembered for all time.
The Significance and Symbolism of Lyra
Many other cultures have recognized and honored the constellation Lyra like the Greek Myth of the lyre of Orpheus. It’s also linked to other legendary figures and gods:
• In Welsh mythology, Lyra is known as King Arthur’s Harp (Talyn Arthur) or King David’s Harp.
• In Norse mythology, the constellation is tied to the god Bragi, known for his poetry and music skills.
• The Sumerian goddess Inanna, linked to love, beauty, and fertility, is also connected to the Lyra constellation
The constellation Lyra, tied to the lyre, a musical instrument, symbolizes harmony, creativity, and the power of music to reach beyond the realms of earth.
The Lyra Constellation
in the Arts
Lyra appears as a symbol of inspiration and artistic creativity. Most paintings are tied to the myth of Orpheus, telling his story scene by scene.
Some artists were inspired by creating symbols for the constellations inspired by their myths. Below is the Lyra constellation from the 1603 star atlas “Uranometria,” created by the classic artist Johann Bayer.
Writers have used the symbolism of Lyra to represent the harmony and beauty that artists strive to achieve. This constellation’s presence in poems, novels, and even modern literature celebrates its lasting impact on human creativity and imagination.
The constellations look down from the skies, And the stars of the Lyre and the Northern Crown Still write their golden letters on the dark To him who listens in the silent night.
“The Constellations” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Body Art – Lyra Constellation Tattoo
For thousands of years, people have expressed meanings and symbols important to their values or beliefs through body art. For some, choosing the image of the Lyra constellation as a tattoo symbolizes a deep tie to creativity, the arts, and music, or to what end one will journey in the pursuit of true love.
How to find
the Constellation Lyra
Lyra is not a large pattern of stars, but it can be considered an easy-to-find constellation due to its alpha star, Vega, the fifth brightest star in the night sky, and its proximity to other well-known constellations. Along with Deneb from Cygnus and Altair from Aquila, it’s part of the Summer Triangle.
To find Lyra, look to the northeastern horizon or start with the north star, the outermost star on the handle of the Small Dipper, and move your eyes across to its right.
Vega, its brightest star, will be between the constellation Cygnus, The Swan (below), and Hercules (above). Vega is at the outer end of Lyra.
Of course, any stargazing app can simplify the process. But you’ll better understand how to navigate the night sky when learning to use other stars as a road sign or marker to find your final destination.
Interesting Facts about the Constellation Lyra
Found in both the northern and southern hemisphere, Lyra can be seen between +90° and -40° latitude. In the northern hemisphere, it’s high in the sky after midnight in summer. For those in the southern hemisphere, it appears low in the northern sky during winter.
In regards to its size, Lyra ranks 52nd out of the 88 official constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Covers an area of 286.5 square degrees in the shape of a triangle and a parallelogram.
Lyra is one of (19) constellations known as the Hercules Family of Constellations. They were selected and identified into this family by 18th century French astronomer Nicholas Louis de Lacaille on criteria of their proximity to the constellation Hercules.
• 52nd largest constellation of the 88 (IAU) official constellations
• Lyra covers an area 286.5 square degrees
• Its shape is a 17-sided polygon
• Part of the Hercules Family of Constellations
The Six Stars of
the Constellation Lyra
Lyra’s main area has six stars all named by astronomers Johann Bayer and John Flamsteed.
The Six (6) Stars of the Constellation Lyra
- Alpha Lyrae (Vega): Lyra’s main star.
- Beta Lyrae (Sheliak): An eclipsing binary star system known for its variability (thanks to British astronomer John Goodricke in1784), serving as the prototype for the Beta Lyrae variable stars.
- Epsilon Lyrae: A complex multiple star system known as the “Double Double,” consisting of two main components that are each a double star.
- Gamma Lyrae (Sulafat): A blue giant star located around 600 light-years from Earth, with a diameter about 15 times larger than the sun.
- Zeta Lyra: Another multiple star system within the constellation.
Lyra’s Brightest Star: Vega
Vega, also known as Alpha Lyrae, is the fifth brightest star in the night sky. It is the second brightest in the northern hemisphere.
Located 25.04 light years away from Earth, it shines with a brightness of 0.026. This makes it a key star in the constellation of Lyra.
Vega was the first star to be photographed measuring its spectrum of light and one of the first to have its distance accurately calculated. It has also been used to calibrate the brightness of other stars.
It was the main star system featured in Carl Sagan’s block buster book and Movie ‘Contact.’
Not only is Vega an important star today, but it was once was positioned as the Earth’s northern pole star (the north star) around 14,000 years ago (12,000 BCE). Because of Earth’s movement, Vega will once again become the northern pole star replacing Polaris for the title of “North Star” in 13,727 CE.
| Characteristic | Vega’s Value |
|---|---|
| Distance from Earth | 25.05 ly |
| Apparent Magnitude | 0.026 |
| Absolute Magnitude | 0.582 |
| Mass | 2.135 solar masses |
| Radius | 2.362-2.818 solar radii |
| Luminosity | 40.12 solar luminosities |
| Surface Temperature | 9,602 K |
| Age | 455 Million yrs |
Despite its brightness, Vega is just 455 million years old, young compared to the Sun.
Its high mass means it uses up hydrogen fuel faster, leading to a shorter life. In about 500 million years, Vega will expand into a red giant, lose its outer layers, and then become a white dwarf.
Hercules Family of Constellations
Sagitta is one of (19) nineteen constellations in the Hercules Family of Constellations. A group created and first identified by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century as an effort to catalog the stars and constellations.
The fascinating family of constellations is based on their positions in the sky and their mythological connections to the stories and adventures of Hercules.
Most of these constellations are located primarily in the northern hemisphere near Hercules, though some extend further into the southern hemisphere.
Constellations in the Hercules Family
| Aquila (The Eagle) | Ara (The Altar) | Centaurus (The Centaur) |
| Corona Australis (The Southern Crown) | Corvus (The Raven) | Crater (The Cup) |
| Crux (The Southern Cross) | Cygnus (The Swan) | Hercules (The Hero) |
| Hydra (The Water Serpent) | Lupus (The Wolf) | Lyra (The Lyre) |
| Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer) | Sagitta (The Arrow) | Scutum (The Shield) |
| Serpens (The Serpent) | Sextans (The Sextant) | Triangulum Australe (The Southern Triangle) |
| Vulpecula (The Little Fox) |
Deep-Sky Objects Within the Lyra Constellation
The constellation of Lyra has its fair share of deep-sky objects. You will find planetary nebulae, globular clusters, and unique star systems. Each has its own unique treasures and features to explore.
The Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720)
The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57 or NGC 6720, is a beautiful planetary nebula about 2,300 light years away.
It shines with an apparent magnitude of 8.8, making it visible to amateur astronomers. This gas shell is about 1 light year wide and was thrown out by a star like our Sun when it died.
At its center is a blue-white dwarf star. This star is much fainter than our Sun, with an absolute magnitude of 15.75. It’s about 4,000 times less bright than the Sun.
Messier 56 (M56)
Messier 56 (M56) is a globular cluster within the Lyra constellation, about 32,900 light years away. It’s estimated to be around 13.70 billion years old.
With an apparent magnitude of 8.3 and an absolute magnitude of -7.41, it’s a bit faint but still an amazing sight to see.
This cluster is huge, spanning about 84 light years across. It has many RR Lyrae variable stars. You can find it between Albireo (Beta Cygni) and Gamma Lyrae.
The Double Double (ε Lyrae)
Epsilon Lyrae, or the Double Double, is a special multiple star system in Lyra. It has two pairs of stars, each pair orbiting the other.
These stars are very close together, about 0.16 light years apart. The whole system shines with a combined apparent magnitude of 4.7 and is 162 light years from Earth.
It’s easy to see with the naked eye or binoculars, making it a hit with stargazers. The stars in this system have been studied a lot because of their interesting orbits.
Conclusion
Lyra is a fascinating constellation worth seeking out on your next evening of stargazing. On a dark night, look towards the star Vega and imagine the many who have gazed upon it over millenniums before you. The myth of Orpheus and his magical lyre is forever woven into this small but captivating constellation.
Understanding how our ancestors perceived these patterns of stars creates a deeper appreciation of the constellations and their celestial beauty. The science layered with the myth connects our humanity to the many mysteries and wonders of the amazing cosmos.
