Where is lyra in the sky

Six stars form a combined geometric pattern of a parallelogram and an equal-sided triangle attached at its northern corner.

Vega gleams at the western point of the triangle. But there are other interesting sights to explore here as well. Epsilon Lyrae, at the northern point of the little triangle where Vega is located, is known as the "double-double" star.

Those with good eyesight discover that Epsilon is really a close pair of stars. Binoculars readily separate the two, while a moderately large telescope shows each one divided again into two stars. Between this winking star and its neighbor, Sulafat, is the famous Ring Nebula, faintly glowing like a ghostly doughnut or a cosmic smoke ring. Visible only in large telescopes, the nebula appears as an oval ring around a star. Millions of years ago, this star exploded, hurling out great masses of gas.

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Cite this Article Format. Petersen, Carolyn Collins. How to Find the Capricornus Constellation. How to Spot the Scorpius Constellation. How to Find the Aquarius Constellation. Deciphering Star Charts for Skygazing. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for ThoughtCo. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

No matter where you are in the northern hemisphere, when you face Polaris you are facing north. Polaris now points northward more accurately than a magnetic compass. In 14, years Vega will become the pole star. This extremely slow but steady cycle of precession was discovered around B. C by the ancient astronomer Hipparchos. Hipparchos combined the qualitative geometrical systems of the Greeks with the quantitative astronomy of the Babylonians, whose ancient observations were etched on cuneiform tablets.

This remarkable fusion of cultures, embodied in the achievements of Hipparchos, greatly benefited Ptolemy years later.

Ptolemy advised his readers that to comprehend the great cycles of the stars provides serenity in the midst of continually changing earthly life:. Shakespeare tells us that when Orpheus would play his lyre:. Orpheus played the harp so well that he charmed Pluto and the guardians of the underworld.

They enjoyed his music so much that they agreed to release his wife Eurydice, who had died of a snake bite. Orpheus was told to trust that Eurydice was behind him, and not to look back and check to see if she was there.

He could not obey this comand, however, and he lost his wife forever. Later, Zeus places his harp among the stars. Abbr: Lyr. Genitive: Lyrae. Size: 52 of RA: 19 hours. Evening culmination 9 pm : August. Midnight Culmination: July. Decl: 35 degrees. Astronomical Regions: Northern.