Starwatch: Vega the bright star will light the way to the constellation of Lyra
Lyra, the lyre, represents the harp played by the Greek poet Orpheus We turn our attention this week to one of the sky’s smallest constellations. High overhead from the UK after darkness falls, Lyra, the lyre, is easy to find thanks to the brilliant white star of Vega. The chart shows the view facing south and looking up towards the zenith from London at 22:30 BST on 17 August. Continue reading...
This week's starwatch focuses on the constellation Lyra, also known as the lyre, which represents the harp played by the Greek poet Orpheus. Lyra is one of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations and is easily visible high overhead from the UK after nightfall. It forms one corner of the summer triangle along with Deneb in Cygnus and Altair in Aquila.
Vega, the brilliant white star at the center of Lyra, is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky and serves as a guide to locate the rest of the constellation. Despite Lyra's stars being fainter, its distinctive shape makes it easy to identify. In Greek mythology, Orpheus's music could charm wild animals, move rocks, and even influence the gods, as he used it to protect his fellow Argonauts from the Sirens' enchanting song.
Observers in the southern hemisphere can also spot Lyra on August evenings, though it appears much lower in the northern sky.
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