When is the best time to observe Zeta Lyrae?

Zeta Lyrae is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Zeta Lyrae located in the sky?

Zeta Lyrae lies in the constellation Lyra at right ascension 18h 45m and declination +37° 36′.

What telescope do I need to split Zeta Lyrae?

Splitting Zeta Lyrae requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 43.9″ at magnitudes near 4.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Zeta Lyrae — Double Star in Lyra

HIP 91971; Zeta1 Lyrae; 6 Lyrae

Observable Double Star Excellent (65/100)

Sep: 43.9", Companion: mag 5.6

DoubleStar Lyra (Lyr) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.36

Range 4.34 - 4.35

Period 4.3 days

Variable Type Ellipsoidal Variable

Spectral Type A4m

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.19)

Distance 105 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 44m 46.4s

Dec +37° 36' 18.0"

Constellation Lyra (Lyr)

HR 7056

HIP 91971

HD 173648

Bayer Zeta1

Flamsteed 6 Lyr

Double Cat 11639

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.4 mag Companion 5.6 mag Separation 43.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Easy
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Easy	Easy

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Light Curve

6Multiple Star System Quintuple

Components 5 (quintuple)

Component IDs AD

Separation 43.9″

Companion Mag 5.6

Position Angle 150°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white D: Yellow-white

Discoverer STFA 38

Notes

CPM with HR 7057 = ADS 11639D. Other components optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1779 → 2021 (242 y)

Separation drift 42.0" → 43.9" (+1.90")

Rate +0.0079" / y

PA drift 152° → 150° (-2°, -0.008°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.

Eyepiece View

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80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°

Seeing

Scale Realistic = true angular size

A: 4.4 · B: 5.6 · Sep: 43.9″ · PA: 150° · N up, E left

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

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Size Comparison

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Spectral Classification

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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Stellar Lifecycle

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Blackbody Spectrum

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Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

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Stellar Fusion

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16Stellar Notes

Variable Star

Delta Sct?

Spectroscopic Binary

4.2999d, K 51.2k/s, V0 -26.0k/s, asini 3.03.

Spectral

Carbon and scandium deficient; strontium, zirconium, barium and europium overabundant. Also classified A7IVms | (variable spectrum) and Am(A5/F0V/F3).

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