Chasing Lyra

This year, I've had to drive a lot more in the dark for work commitments, which is one of my least favorite things to do. It's made me wish for January, of all things, because the sky actually starts to get lighter in the evening, and the icy ground is at least more visible.

Dark skies have also got me wishing for brighter stars and constellations, thinking there was perhaps a time when they could light people's travels. Living in a city doesn't help as starlight doesn't reach us very well (though there are some great moons, not that they bring much light either). What I love about constellations is the stories and myths that surround them. (You know I would love that, right?)

First, there's jealous gods and goddesses flinging each other into the sky, which is so much more interesting than sending someone to hell or wherever. And while I always loved the Big and Little Dippers because I could actually SEE them in northern skies, my favorite constellation involves musicians. I haven't seen it yet, but if I had to pick one, that would be "it."

That constellation is called Lyra and is supposed to look like the lyre, a stringed musical instrument used in antiquity and later times. Lyre is associated with the myth of Greek musician and poet Orpheus and discovered (or publicized)? --by the Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy in the second century.

Lyra contains Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky and second brightest star in the northern hemisphere. I like this even more because one of my dear friends is a jazz musician named Lou Vega, and yeah, he shines pretty brightly.

Lyra represents the lyre of Orpheus, the musician and poet in Greek mythology who was killed by the Bacchantes, who followed the god of wine (Bacchus) and were supposed to be drunk out of their minds most of the time. When Orpheus died, his lyre was thrown into a river. The main god Zeus sent an eagle to get the lyre and placed both of them in the sky.

Orpheus was the son of the Thracian King Oeagrus and the muse Calliope. When he was young, the god Apollo gave him a golden lyre and taught him to play it, and his mother taught him to write verses. That means she was a songwriter, yes? Can we hope?

Orpheus was known for his exceptional musical ability, for trying to save his wife Eurydice from the underworld, and for being the harpist and companion of Jason and his band of Argonauts - aka heroes that liked hanging out with Jason.

Orpheus helped Jason and the Argonauts to bypass the Sirens, whose song beguiled sailors to come to them, although the sailors usually crashed and drowned when trying to find the Sirens. When the Argonauts approached the islands, Orpheus played music on his lyre that drowned out the Siren songs.

You may know about Orpheus through the story of his wife Eurydice. She was trying to escape a nasty satyr at her wedding, and fell into a nest of vipers, where she was bitten and died. When Orpheus found the body, he was distraught and played songs that made the gods and the nymphs cry. 

The gods felt sorry for Orpheus and advised him to travel to the underworld and try to revive Eurydice. Orpheus took their advice. He played a song that deeply moved the underworld king Hades and his wife Persephone and they agreed to allow Eurydice to return to the living on one condition: Orpheus had to walk in front of her and not look back until they both had reached the upper world. 

Orpheus and Eurydice started walking and at first, he did not look back. However, Orpheus forgot that both he and Eurydice had to arrive in the upper world before he could turn. As soon as he reached it, he turned around, but Eurydice had not quite arrived and she disappeared from the world forever.

Is there anyone in the world who couldn't love this story (and be heartbroken by it)? And where can I possibly see this constellation and WHEN? Do I need to buy/borrow a telescope? You know the answer, don't you. Another project, perhaps, for a more leisurely time. Just know, Lyra, that I'm looking for you.

For more on Lyra and stargazing tips, check out these articles:

Lyra Constellation
A Beginner's Guide to Stargazing
Urban Astronomy 101


Stargazing Party Photo: Virginia State Parks