Lyra (the lyre) is a prominent, although fairly small, northern
constellation. It was one of
Ptolemy's 48 constellations, and also counts among the modern 88 constellations. Its brightest star is
Vega (Alpha Lyrae), which together with Altair (Alpha
Aquilae) and Deneb (Alpha
Cygni) forms the large
asterism known as the
Summer Triangle.