Lyra is a prominent constellation in the northern sky, named after the lyre, a musical instrument. It is home to Vega, one of the brightest stars visible from Earth, which is part of the Summer Triangle asterism. Lyra is best seen during the summer months in the northern hemisphere. The constellation contains several notable deep-sky objects, including the Ring Nebula (M57), a well-known planetary nebula. Lyra is relatively small, covering an area of about 286 square degrees, and is bordered by the constellations Hercules, Draco, and Cygnus.