Lyra

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Abbreviation:  Lyr (Lyra)
English Name:  The Lyra
Genitive: Vega
Hemisphere:  Northern Hemisphere
Location: Between the constellations of Cygnus and Hercules.
Visible between latitudes:  +90 and -40 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons: Spring, Summer, & Autumn.
Best seen in: Early August (map)
Seen between: April and November
Right Ascension (RA): 19 hour
Declination (DEC): +40 degrees
Area (square degrees):  286 square degrees (52nd)

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Lyra (The Lyra)

  • This small constellation, but beautiful, is overlooked by Vega – one of the brightest stars in the sky.
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  • About 4000 years ago, the star Thuban was the North Star. Since then, movement in the position of the Earth’s axis has changed where the North Pole points, so the North Star is now Polaris. In another 10,000 years or so, the North Star will be Vega!
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  • Vega, along with Deneb and Altair form the well-known Summer Triangle.

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Messier Objects in Lyra

  • Messier 56
    Low concentration of stars, rather loose – unlike most globular clusters, this one has no bright core.
  • Messier 57
    Ring Nebula, also known as Smoke Ring, sometimes called Donut Nebula, very impressive and stunning objects. Small telescopes show it as a featureless patch or disk, but 4-inch brings out the shape.

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    More objects in Lyra

    Select CatalogNo of Objects
    Barnard (B)0x object
    Caldwell (C)0x object
    Collinder (Cr)0x objects
    New General Catalogue (NGC)33x objects
    Index Catalogue (IC)5x objects
    Sharpless (Sh2)1x object

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    Features of Interest

    • NGC 6791 – Open Cluster, roughly 8 billion years old; very rich in stars (more than 100 stars), looks like a sparse lobular cluster which is detached with a strong concertation toward the centre and has a brightness range.

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    Named Stars

    • Vega (Alpha Lyr)
    • Sheliak (Beta Lyr)
    • Sulafat (Gamma Lyr)
    • Double Double (Epsilon 1 Lyr)
    • Double Double (Epsilon 1 Lyr)
    • Double Double (Epsilon 2 Lyr)
    • Double Double (Epsilon 2 Lyr)
    • Aladfar (Eta Lyr)
    • Alathfar (Mu Lyr)
    • more list of stars in Lyra.

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    Planetarium / Constellation Map

    Live constellation visible
    from the UK :- Planetarium (Lyra)    		Best Seen in:
    Early August (map)    		Seen between:
    April and November

    IAU Sky Chart: Lyra

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    Constellations – Visible from the UK

    AndromedaAquariusAquilaAriesAuriga
    BoötesCamelopardalisCancerCanes VenaticiCanis Major
    Canis MinorCapricornusCassiopeiaCepheusCetus
    Coma BerenicesCorona BorealisCorvusCraterCygnus
    DelphinusDracoEquuleusGeminiHercules
    HydraLacertaLeoLeo MinorLepus
    LibraLynxLyraMonocerosOphiuchus
    OrionPegasusPerseusPiscesSagitta
    ScutumSerpens CaputSerpens CaudaSextansTaurus
    TriangulumUrsa MajorUrsa MinorVirgoVulpecula
    (50 constellations above are visible from the United Kingdom.)

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    Parts visible from the UK

    AntliaColumbaEridanusFornaxMicroscopium
    Piscis AustrinusPuppisPyxisSagittariusScorpius
    Sculptor
    (11 constellations above are partially visible from the United Kingdom.)

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    Constellations: Southern Celestial Hemisphere
    …..– never seen from the UK

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    Back to Constellation Names

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