λ Lyrae (lambda Lyrae)

Altitude: 9.5° Azimuth: 311.0° Direction: North-West

λ Lyrae is a variable giant star in the constellation of Lyra.

λ Lyrae visual magnitude is 4.93. Because of its moderate brightness, λ Lyrae should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about λ Lyrae:

Color of λ Lyrae ⬤

Magnitude of λ Lyrae 4.93

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW

λ Lyrae (lambda Lyrae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 9.5°
Azimuth: 311.0°
Direction: North-West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of λ Lyrae

λ Lyrae is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of λ Lyrae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 19h 00m 00s

Declination J2000 +32° 08’ 44”

Galactic Longitude 62.91°

Galactic Latitude 12.38°

Constellation Lyra

The simplified sky map below shows the position of λ Lyrae in the sky:

Finder chart λ Lyrae (lambda Lyrae) star

Simplified finder chart for λ Lyrae (lambda Lyrae).

Visibility of λ Lyrae from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's λ Lyrae (lambda Lyrae) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 57.9° RISE 4:34

Max altitude: 70.7° TRANSIT 13:59

Azimuth: 302.1° SET 23:25

Digitized Sky Survey image of λ Lyrae

The image below is a photograph of λ Lyrae from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of λ Lyrae is 0.013 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.013 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of λ Lyrae. The red arrow shows the motion of λ Lyrae during the next 10000 years (2.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and 2.17 arcmin in declination);

Distance of λ Lyrae from the Sun and relative movement

λ Lyrae is distant 1,537.74 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 16 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 471.70 pc

Distance (light year) 1,537.74 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -16 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.013 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.013 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of λ Lyrae

λ Lyrae belongs to spectral class K2 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -3.44

Spectral Type K2III

Color Index (B-V) 1.47

Temperature of λ Lyrae 3839K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where λ Lyrae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of λ Lyrae. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alternative designations of λ Lyrae

Bayer designation λ Lyrae
(lambda Lyrae)

Flamsteed designation 15 Lyrae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD176670

SAO Catalogue SAO67682

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP93279

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+31 3424

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 11641

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