"We say Lira, mean - Vega," so, probably, it would be possible to rephrase the words of the poet in the relations of this constellation. Like a lot of new dwarf parties, which are not known anything, besides the popular leader's name, and the bright star of Vega acquired let it be small, but "sovereign" constellation. The area of \u200b\u200bthis "state" in the sky is 285 square meters. Degrees, and "Capital" - Vega-5th place in brightness among all the stars of the sky. Lira is bordered by the Swan (in the East), the dragon (in the north), Hercules (in the West), and the chanterelle (in the south) and no "territorial claims" does not have. The constellation center cultures on the local midnight in the first week of July.

Find the Lair in the sky, you live in the city or in the village, will not make any difficulty - only raise the head. There, almost in Zenith, select the bright blizzard-white star. These are Vega (α lira), visible even in the city center, in conditions of the strongest illumination (see also the card of all heaven).

I hope that for observations you still chose a darker place, and therefore, a little lower and left, you will notice the four stars 3-4 of the values \u200b\u200blocated in the form of a parallelogram (two lower stars are a bit brighter than the upper). Add to them another star, lying a little left, - here, actually, and all the constellations of the lyra. Today we are with you, dear reader, will try to, as far as possible, get acquainted with him closer.

First of all, of course, let's look at the brightest object of constellation - vega. This is quite close (25 s. Years) to us the star has a lot of three times more, the temperature is twice as much, and the brightness is 60 times more than our daylight.

Probably, it is because of its large brightness of Vega that became the first star, which was able to take a picture. Historical Dagerrotype was obtained on the night of July 16, July 17, 1850 in the Harvard Observatory on a 38-cm refractor. Lightly sensitive emulsion required 100 sec. Exposure to register light from the star.

In the catalogs, the Lyra appears as a multiple star. Vega has four weak "satellites", which actually have nothing in common with it, except for the optical effect of a similar location. The companions are drown in bright radiance, but still from 150-200 mm telescope with a large magnification, you can try to detect the presence of two brightest of them. Vega E is in 90 "to the northeast of the main star, Vega B - at 75" south. Both components have about the 9th star magnitude.

β Lyra (Shelik) - the right bottom of the fetragon of stars of the constellation of the Lyra is a famous elaborate star. It consists of two components that took, due to a very close location to each other, elongated an elliptical form. The gloss β lira is constantly changing in the range of Z. M to 4.3 m, so that its variability can be completely removed with the naked eye. The lira's lumes are regularly occurring once at 13 days, which corresponds to the period of circulation of components in this system.

Located next door to the star Sulafat (Γ Lyra) has a brilliance of 3.2 m and can serve as a comparison star when observing β lira. As the second star, the comparison can be chosen to the lira (4.3 m) located at 7 ° to the northwest.

Looking now a little higher: in 2 ° to the northeast of the entrance there is one wonderful asterisk - ε Lyra. It seemed to you that there were two of them? Congratulations, you don't just have normal, but very sharp vision.

If you failed to notice the unarmed eye, you failed to notice the duality of ε, then take any binoculars or a visual tube - they will easily allow the star into two white components (separation 209 "). Unfortunately, there are binoculars on this opportunity, and for further inspection of β lira us. It will take a telescope (for example, "Mitsar"). By installing the eyepiece with a maximum increase, you will find that each of the stars of this system broke up, in turn, into two components, forming a beautiful quartet of white stars about the same brightness. Hence the name ε Lyra comes from here: "Double-double". And the first drew attention to it V. Herschel in August 1779. Currently, the separation of stars in the northern pair (ε 1) is 2.6 ", and in southern (ε 2) - 2.3". Their orbits and mutual locations in for different years Showing in the picture.

Having dropped on the decline of only 2 ° to the south, we stumble upon another double star - ζ lira. In brightness, it is not inferior to the "double-double", and both of its white-blue components divided by 44 "are perfectly visible in the field binoculars.

To complete the search for bright stars of this constellation, move 2 ° to the southeast to find there Δ Lyra. The very first look at her convinces that this wide couple is the best of all that we had a chance to see in the sky today at night. A brighter star (Δ 2) has a saturated orange color, while its neighbor (Δ 1), remote by the entire 620, has a noticeable bluish tint. Color contrast is still stronger in the eyes after all those colorless, whitish stars that were We have already been examined. Additional beauty this spectacle gives absent star cluster Stephenson 1, on which Δ Lyra is projected. A pair of dozens of non-rigid stars, widely scattered on the platform with a diameter of 20, "create a beautiful background in the field of view of small tools and binoculars, on which two colored stars are highlighted especially strongly. And it's just amazing why this scattered cluster did not fall into the new General catalog"(NGC), nor in an additional" index directory "(1C).

Our next object, on the contrary, has never been deprived by the attention of both astronomers-professional sionals and astronomy lovers. As you probably have already guessed, we are talking about the planetary Nebula "Ring" (M57). It is approximately in the middle between β and γ lira (slightly closer to β lira) and discovers its disc when observed in 20-fold binoculars. The Mitsar telescope with an average increase will show that the disk of the nebula is noticeably stretched, and 150-200 mm tool will allow you to see the details of the ring-shaped structure of this object. And only the central star of nebulae, having a brilliance of 15 m, remains unattainable for visual observations into amateur telescopes.

In Lira, there is another object from the Mesami catalog - the ball cluster M56, lying in the rich stars, the area of \u200b\u200bthe Milky Way, on half a threaters from γ Lyra to Albireo (β Swan). In binoculars it looks foggy stain 2 "in diameter with a small increase in brightness to the center. A 200-mm telescope with good weather conditions will be able to partially resolve the accumulation and show several weak stars in its edges.

And what are the available dip-Sky fans objects from the NGC directory have a lira constellation in your reserve? The owners of Mitsarov may try their forces at the scattered star cluster NGC 6791. It is 1 ° to the southeast of the lira. In the telescope, the accumulation looks a foggy spot with a weak central condensation and a rumbled structure along the edges. Will you be able to see any interesting details?

Owners of larger tools can be offered something more complicated. 6 ° to the north of ε Lyra in one field of view of the telescope is a pair of weak galaxies: elliptical NGC 6702 and spiral NGC 6703. To search, the latter will need at least 15-20 cm telescope, while NGC 6702, judging by the descriptions, hardly Guessing when observed in a 25-cm tool. Well, it goes without saying that success in their search can be achieved only in the absence of illumination at the observation site and good atmospheric transparency.

At the end of the route, let's find the wrong variable star Lyra. Its brilliance ranges from 7.8 m to 9.6 m, but it is interesting for us for our truly red. Τ Lyra is not so easy to find among the large number of stars of a similar south-west entrance, but as soon as she falls into the field of view of your telescope, you already do not confuse it with anything.

In fact, a small constellation Lira is located in. Indeed, its area is 256 square degrees. What puts it only on the 56th place in size. It is adjacent to the Hercules, dragon, swan and chanterelle.
As you know, the constellation was named after the favorite tool of residents Ancient Greece.

Legend about the constellation Lira

By myth, Zeus had a Korshun. He stole the body of the nymphs of the campaigns from captivity of the evil titanium. In gratitude, God placed him on the sky in the form of a combination of stars.
It also makes it possible that this is a tool placed on the heavenly sphere. Which, by different versions, belonged to Appolona or Orpheus.


Actually, there are five stars on the territory of the lyra. They also form a figure that is well distinguished in the sky.
Alpha Constellations -. It is a second brightness star in the northern hemisphere. In addition, a summer triangle is part of a popular asterism. This is a white luminous class of AOVA.
Beta — Sheliac It is an eclipse variable star class B7V. And she has a white and blue color.
Deltaexpressed by the red bright giant of the M4IVAR class.
RR Lira This is a pulsating variable object. By the way, in honor of the RR, the Lira called the whole class of stars variable.
Gamma — Sulafat. Refers to white-blue giants class B9III.
In addition, it is impossible not to say about Epsilon Areas. This is a multiple shining. Which is worth noting, has four components.


Other objects

The constellation Lira hides in itself an interesting Ring (M 57). This is a rather dull area. But still it can be found with the help of special devices.
In addition, the constellation lira contains ball cluster M 56. Although it marks a small number of stars.
In addition, the region found several meteoric streams : Lyrida, June Lyrida and Alpha Lirid.


Observation

Since the Lira's constellation lies between and then look for it in this area. It is clearly visible on latitude from +90 to -42.
According to astronomers, to observe the musical constellation is best in the summer. Russia can be viewed from anywhere.


The constellation Lira is so small, but so beautiful and memorable. It can be observed almost round yearAnd thanks to bright Vene is easy to find in the sky. Despite the modest sizes, this constellation is quite interesting, and it has something to observe.

Lyra is so old constellation that even in the Claudia constellation catalog. A tragic story is connected with his name and origin.

According to the ancient Greek myths, the famous singer Orpheus once lived, very loved his wife Eurydich. When Euridic died, Orpheus followed her to the kingdom of the dead to rescue it from there. The Orpheus game very much liked to all responsible persons on the side - Charon, Cerberra, and the God of the Dead Gades. Therefore, the Orpheus was allowed to lead to Eurydice into the world of living, but with one condition - he should not be published on it until it comes out. However, Orpheus looked around, and Euridic remained in the kingdom of the dead forever.

With the grief, Orpheus wandered around the ground there, then Sym, and played on his lyre, until he met the Vakhanok - women from the cult of Dionysus, the god of wine. At first they seduced the Orpheus, and then broke it into parts. The body of the Orpheus was buried in Frakia, and head on the island of Lesbos. And God Apollo placed the Liru Orpheus on the sky. So the constellation of Lira appeared.

The constellation of the Lira refers to, but only because at this time it is worth the highest possible and it is best to observe. In the summer of Vega - the main star in the constellation Lyra, it is worth practically in Zenith. However, this constellation in Russia is visible and at any other time of the year, although in winter it is low above the horizon in the West.

In the middle of the summer, looking almost straight up, you can see a bright star, which is sometimes noticeable with a bluish tint. This is Vega, the main star of the constellation Lira. About her, the figure of four stars constituting the parallelogram is clearly visible.

Vega is asterism called the "Great Summer Triangle", the vertices of which are also formed by Denhead - Alpha, and Altair - Alpha Eagle. These three stars are the brightest on the summer sky, so it's difficult to make a mistake in their search.

Stars constellation Lira

In this small constellation there are many interesting stars. On some, the most remarkable, read on.

Vega - Home Star Constellation Lyra

First, Vega is the brightest star on the summer sky of the Northern Hemisphere, its brightness is 0.03m. Its brilliance even taken for zero when measuring the brightness of other stars, and it enters a special scale. Brighter it only, but they are visible at another time of the year. Distance to this star - 25.3 light years, that is, it is one of our neighbors.

Vega is one of the most studied stars after the sun. It was she who was first photographed, and she among the first stars, which were determined by the distance by measuring Parallax - made it Vasily Struve in 1837.

Vega is a young star, its age is only about 455 million years. When she appeared, dinosaurs had long wandered on Earth. By weight of the vega twice as much as the sun, and in diameter - almost three times more. It should be borne in mind that Vega rotates very quickly around the axis - 100 times faster than the Sun, so it has a slightly flattened ellipseer. Therefore, more hot areas are located on the poles. Vega is located so that we see it just from the pole, so it seems to us a white-blue star.

It is now known that there is a belt from asteroids and dust, similar to the belt of Koiper in Solar system. There is also data that indirectly talk about the presence of a minimum of one planet like Jupiter, although it has not yet been detected. Perhaps there is still a process of formation of planets.

There are entries and a mystery - so far it is not yet known whether it is a variable star. She sometimes happens very small gloss fluctuations that hard to fix. This is explained by the youth of the stars and the instability of processes in its depths, which can sometimes occur with ripples and changes in brightness. And maybe Vega is the real variable, but modern equipment is unable to fix such small vibrations of brightness.

Vega radiates light 40 times more than the sun, and it is much hot, so he will spend its hydrogen quite quickly - after about 500 million years he will end. In 1 billion, she will become a subgigant, and then turn into a red giant. Then Vega will reset its shell and become a hot white dwarf. New it will not explode - insufficiently mass. Now Vega in the middle of his life.

If you have a telescope, be sure to direct it on the vega. The observation of the blue sun shining in the depths of space gives an extraordinary feeling of presence.

Multiple star ε lira

Epsilon Lira - Star located near Vega. If you look at it in a fairly strong binoculars, you can see that this star consists of two stars separated by a distance of 3.5 '. However, each of these stars is also double, that is, here we see a fourfold system! Distances between components in each double system - 2.8 "and 2.4", that is, you can even divide them in a small telescope.

Each of the four stars of Epsilon Lyra is similar to Sirius - their masses from 1.5 to 1.9 solar. There is this curious system in 162 light years from us.

Sheliac, Beta Lyra - Estimated Star

Sheliac - the name of the second brightness of the star of the constellation Lyra. It is located in one of the distances from the entrances of the Angles of Par Allepipeda. This is a very interesting star that deserves observations even with the naked eye. The distance to her is huge - 900 light years.

The fact is that β lira -, the main and most famous in its class. In fact, this is a very dense system from a pair of stars who quickly turn around the common center of gravity. We see one star, as it is impossible to divide this pair even in a powerful telescope. For Sheliak, the turnover period is 12.91 days.

Extreme variable Sheliac.

The plane of the orbits of this pair of stars is located in such a way that we see it from the rib. Therefore, when one star passes before the other, we can see the fall of the total brightness. If the orbit plane was located at a different angle, then for us it would be an ordinary double star.

The brightness of the Beta Lyra varies from 3.4 to 4.3m. This is a rather large amplitude, noticeable for the eye. Therefore, it is possible to conduct observations and the naked eye, although it is more convenient to binoculars.

Sheliak system consists of a pair of very hot stars - one component of 26,000 times brighter sunand the other is 6500 times. At the same time, the distance between them is only 40 million kilometers, that is, almost 4 times less than from the ground to the Sun. Big Star Completely filled out its cavity of Rosh, so the substance flows to another star from it, why an accretion disk from a stellate was formed around the system. Now the star, which gives the substance, has become much smaller than it was, and its mass is only 3 sunny, but another swollen to 13 solar.

Not far from Sheliak, in 45.7, "there is another star with brightness of 7.2m, which is called β Lyra B. This star is also logged in, and it is easy to distinguish it into binoculars. But in fact, this star is also dense dual. That is, β lira is also a fourfold system!

R Lira - half-way variable

Star R Lira is located near Vega. It belongs to the class of semi-way, that is, the small vibrations of brightness of it change in an unpredictable way, but on average they have a period of about 50 days.

The brightness of this star varies from 4.0 to 5.0m, that is, it can be quite comfortable to observe binoculars. It is a red giant, which is much colder than the Sun - the surface temperature is less than 3500 degrees.

RR Lyra - another variable

Constellation Lyra, as we see, rich in variable stars of different types. RR Lira is a representative of another type of variables, or rather - the height. This is Cefeid, that is, a pulsating star, but another type than Δ Cefhea. The fact is that RR Lira is a short-range cefeta, who have a period less than a day. This star has a period of only 13 hours of 36 minutes, and the brightness varies from 7.20 to 8.57m. You can watch it in a good binoculars.

RR brilliance curve.

Distance to this wonderful variable - 854 light years. Be sure to try to observe it.

Nebula and clusters in the constellation Lira

The constellation Lyra is remarkably not only with its variables. There are other wonderful objects in it.

Planetary Nebula M 57 - "Ring"

Just in the middle between long-range stars The "parallelogram" of Lyra is one of the most beautiful planetary nebulaes - it is indicated as M 57 V. If you look at it in a telescope, it looks like an ephemeral ring of smoke that you can start avid smokers. On the photos of the Hubble telescope, it looks much more impressive.

The Nebula "Ring", shot by Hubble.

This nebula was formed when a red giant in her center dropped his shell, and now this gas cloud expands in all directions. The explosion occurred about 6000-8000 years ago, and now this nebula in the diameter has achieved size 1.5 of the day year. The nebula is glowing due to gas ionization by the radiation of the central star. This star is one of the hottest temperatures of its surface reaches 120000 degrees, and the lights it radiates 200 times more than the sun, despite the way that its mass is half smaller.

In the center it is now hot white Dwarf The brightness of 14.7m, that is, it is a very difficult object even for very powerful amateur telescopes - a vertex is required from 400 mm. But the Nebula "Ring" itself can be found in a rather modest telescope. For example, it is clearly visible in a 90-mm Sky-Watcher 909 refractor, and it can be discovered even in a powerful binoculars - its brightness is 8.8m.

Of course, in fact, the Nebula "Ring" is not a ring, but the sphere, as the gas was rebelled by the central star in all directions. However, the edges of this sphere in the direction of view look "thicker" than the center, so we see the nebula in the form of a ring. Due to the smooth round shape, resembling the plate of the planet, the nebula of this type is called planetary.

If you have a telescope, be sure to find the Mistine M 57, look at the traces of the catastrophe, which happened several thousand few years ago. Perhaps once the central star had both the planets that were rented by a huge explosion.

M 56 - ball cluster in the lyre

M 56 is the brightest ball star cluster in the constellation Lyra. Its brightness is 8.3m, and size - 8.8 '. The distance to it is about 30,000 light years, although different sources indicate different.

For observations of this cluster, a telescope with aperture of 130 mm and more is best suited. No details are not noticeable to smaller tools. But the 200-mm telescope will show already separate stars of this cluster.

NGC 6791 - scattered star cluster

This cluster has a brightness of 9.5m and dimensions 16 '. With a slight increase, it looks like weak and faded, but with a larger increase disintegrates on the set of stars and looks much more interesting. However, this accumulation is located on a rather saturated star 10-13m background, so it is difficult to notice the edges.

This cluster is one of the oldest, his age is about 8 billion years. It consists of about 100 stars, and some of them older than 6 billion years.

Of course, in the constellation Lyra there are other objects, but those listed here are available for observations with a rather modest telescope, or even without it. And in general, the constellation the Lyra is unique in the sense that with very modest sizes has such a large number of attractions. So be sure to pay attention to it on your travels on the starry sky. And we wish you a bigger weather!


In contact with

The bottom concerns the little-known constellation chanterelle.

Lira - a small constellation. Taking an area of \u200b\u200b286 square meters. Degree, it is located on the 52th place for this parameter.

Despite the small size, find the line easily: the main star of the constellation - Vega is the second brightness in the northern hemisphere, is part of ancient times the famous and most noticeable asterism of our sky - a summer triangle, and is not far from the head.

If you start with the veins, connecting the following four brighter stars of constellations with each other, an easily recognizable figure is formed - the right parallelogram, with a slightly above the upper corner of the vegan.

Lyra on the night sky.

The LIRA is perfectly seen in the northern latitudes of Russia all year round (with the exception of the period of the polar day in the extreme north). In moderate latitudes best time Observations from May - October. In the south of Lira hides behind the horizon in winter, but completely visible before dawn, as well as immediately after entering.

The history of the emergence of the constellation is rooted in deep antiquity. It is present both elements of antique mythology and Arab roots.

According to one of the versions of Lira, the tool of the legendary Thracian singer and the musician of Orpheus. That myth is attributed to the creation of music and poems. According to the legend, the son of the Thracian river god Eager and Music Kallopa received the Golden Lear of Apollo's hands. With its help, Orpheus could not only tame wild animals and tend the trees, but even moving the rocks.

Other sources argue that Lira belonged to the poet and singer Arion, who introduced in poetry the Diffiram genre. By the way, according to Hederot, Arion is a real historical character.

And, perhaps, before us, the same Lira that Hermes made a turtle from the shell?

In ancient satin atlas, the constellation is often shown in Kogrates at Korshun, and the name of the main star "Vega" is translated from Arab as a "falling cruise". It is believed that the Korshun sent Zeus to abduct the body of Tartarian nymph Camp from Briaria.

In the summer of the sky in cloudless nights especially beautiful. It seems that the number of shimmering points above the head after winter has increased many times. In the northern hemisphere, almost in the middle of the Heavenly Dome, right above the observer's painshche, you can see a pretty bright star. It is Vega, Alpha Constellation Lyra, a small celestial drawing, located in such a favorable place from the last days of spring and mid-autumn. An antique musical instrument image, despite its modest sizes compared to neighbors, from a long time, attracts astronomer's eyes.

Surroundings and form

The constellation of the Lira contains 54 shining, visible from the ground with the naked eye. Her closest neighbors in the sky are swan, Hercules, dragon and chanterelle. Find the bright point of the drawing, vega, quite simply not only due to its position. Alpha Lyra is one of the vertices of asterism. Summer triangle, fully consisting of very bright and well-visible stars. Two other angle of it is indicated by the denbel from and Altair, belonging to the heavenly image of the eagle.

In the form of the constellation, Lira resembles a quadrilateral, all the vertices of which are clearly visible in a clear night. On a slight distance from one of them is located Vega.

Constellation Lira: Legend

As you know, this heavenly drawing is the name of an ancient musical instrument. In ancient Greece, the lyra did from the turtle shells. In honor of the animals, the instrument was called: the word "Lira" in translation means "turtle". According to legends, the first such thing that can make melodic sounds, gave the Hermes to people. Lyra has always accompanied the mythical singer Orpheus. According to legend, his music and voice captive and gods, and people. Where the sounds of the lira were heard, the flowers and sang birds bloomed. Orthea was non-easy fate: He lost his wife, Eurydich, descended for her in the kingdom of the dead, tried to return, but at the last moment he violated one of the main conditions of Aida. Having lost his beloved, Orpheus threw away and went in silence and grieve to live his age. The gods who revere in front of the tool sounds raised him to heaven and made constellation.

Lovers

The vega star is connected with a separate legend having the Eastern origin. Japanese and relates it from the beautiful goddess who loved the mortal. The young man is also placed on the sky: this is Altair from the constellation Eagle. The father of the goddess, who lived about the secret love, was angry and forbade her daughter to meet the chosen one. Since then, Vehi and Altair shares the heavenly river, the Milky Way. In love is given only once a year, the seventh of July, when thousands of forty build the bridge between them. After night, the goddess returns back and bitter tears mourns the separation. Salted drops are seen from the ground as falling meteors, Persians.

Alpha

The brightest star in the constellation Lira from a long time attracted not only the views of the obstellers. She was always interested in scientists. The unique position of the shone and his notice was led to the fact that today Vega is one of the most studied stars in space.

In brightness, it ranks fifth in all heaven and second in the northern hemisphere after Arctic. Visible entrance - 0.03. It refers to the objects of the spectral class A0VA, its mass exceeds the solar 2.1 times, and the diameter is 2.3.

Future Svetila

Wear a white-blue giant. According to scientists, it shines already 455 thousand years. For a person, this is a striking figure, however, by the standards of the Universe, Vega lives not so long. For comparison, the Sun covers our site of the galaxy is already 4.5 billion years. The intensity of radiation and other characteristics will not allow the main star Lyra to exist for a long time. Astronomers predict Vegges and destruction after another 450 thousand years.

Standard

Thanks to its position, Vega has been well studied, which, in turn, served as it with the approval of a certain standard in astronomy. From the mid-19th century, the star magnitudes of several hundred shone were determined by its brilliance. Vega has become one of the seven stars located at such a distance from the Sun, that cosmic dust does not distort the radiation running from them, on the basis of which the photometric UBV photometric system was brought to perfection, which allows to determine some physical parameters of the shone.

Despite, it would seem, a comprehensive learning study, there are a number of questions related to it, today we have not received exhaustive answers. One of them undermines the "reputation" of Alpha Lyra as standard in astronomy. In the last century, "malfunctions" in the shine of the star were discovered. The data obtained testified that he fluctuates. In this case, the vegge should be attributed to the variable stars. There is no unambiguous opinion on this bill.

Rotation

In the 60s of the 20th century, the familiar definition of the spectral class of the VEGI was questioned. It turned out that Alpha Lyra is too hot and bright for standard representatives of their type. The fact did not receive a decent explanation until 2005, when the unagnation was found.

It turned out that Vega rotates around its axis at high speed (in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Equator, the indicator reaches 274 km / s). In such conditions, the form of the space object changes. Vega is no more or less correct ball, but ellipse, elongated by equator and flattened by poles. As a result, despite the usual, the North and South outskirts of the stars are closer to the hot core than the equatorial zone. The poles are heated stronger, brighter.

This hypothesis originated in the 80s of the last century and was confirmed by observations in 2005. She explains the abnormal and its brightness.

Disk

Vega is characterized by another feature: it has an near dust disk. She became the first luminaire, which had a similar formation. A disc consists of residual space objects faced with each other near the star.

The discovery of the disk was preceded by the detection of excess infrared emissions of the VEGI. Today, all the shines with such a characteristic designate as "vega-like".

Some features in the dust disk structure suggest that a huge planet is rotated around Alpha Lyra, similar to Jupiter. So far, this data is not confirmed, however, if it happens, Vega will be the first brightest starhaving a planet.

Sheliac

Not only Vega applies to the number of interesting objects of the celestial musical instrument. The constellation Lyra has several multiple the attention of scientists, first of all attracts Sheliac, beta lira. It refers to the elaborate variable luminaires. The system consists of a bright white-blue dwarf and a large, but more dull white star belonging to the main sequence. They are separated by 40 million kilometers, which is very small on cosmic standards. As a result, the substance from one of the companions continuously flows to another.

The gas moving from the "donor" forms an accretion disk around the "recipient". At the same time, both stars are surrounded by a common gas shell that constantly gives part of its substance into the surrounding space.

Initially, the ratio of masses of companions looked differently. Today's donor was more impressive. Over time, he turned into a giant and began to give his substance. Now its mass is estimated at 3 sunny, while this parameter of the companion is equal to 13 masses of our shining.

At some distance from the main pair there is a third star, beta Lyra V. in brightness, it is 80 times higher than the sun. Beta Lira B refers to spectroscopic double (period is 4.34 days).

Epsilon

The Lira constellation has a star system consisting of four components. This is an epsilon of the lira, divided into two components of Epsilon 1 and epsilon 2, even when observed with binoculars. Each of them is a pair of shining. All four components - white stars belonging to the same spectral classAs Sirius. Epsilon 1 and 2 rotate with a period of 244 thousand years.

Ring and ball

Almost any heavenly drawing can boast of beautiful mistresses on their "territory". No exception and constellation Lira. The photo of the space object, located between the gamut and the Beta Lyra, gives a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe origin of his name.

The nebula ring with its form, indeed, resembles the appropriate jewelry. She decorates the constellation of the Lira, located at a distance of 2 thousand light years from the ground. The age of nebula is supposed to be 5.5 thousand years. You can see it in binoculars. A beautiful mixture luminescence occurs due to ultraviolet radiation emitted by white dwarf. Once it was a core of a massive star.

Not far from the nebula there is a ball M56.

Their neighborhood, however, imaginary: M56 removed from the ground by 32.9 thousand light years. In the pictures, it resembles a bowl, compacted to the middle, where the number of stars per unit space is quite high. There are approximately 12 variable stars. The ball cluster is difficult to observe with amateur equipment, as it is lost against the background of the Milky Way.

Lyra - the constellation is small, but nevertheless interesting. On its "territory" there are representatives of very many objects from among those who study astronomy. Stars and constellations surrounding the LIRA may seem more impressive and worthy of attention. On the other hand, only a bright vegue is enough to "eclipse" them all. Especially if you remember that the star values \u200b\u200bof these shining are quite possible, were determined on the basis of data about Alfer Lira. This heavenly drawing is thus the visual illustration of the saying "Small yes delete." However, the same can be said about his legendary prototype, Lira Orpheus.