Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Vega

Vega

4 7.0
A very bright star in the group of stars called Lyra
  • proper noun
  • /ˈveɪɡə/
  • Specialized
: Vega
  • Separated by the torrent in the Milky Way, Altair and Vega must live apart.

Examples

  • For sky watchers, the appearance of Vega directly overhead is a sure sign of summer.

  • Whatever that something is, Altair and Vega are part of it.

    Academic text (1991)

  • "If the sun wasn't washing the stars out, you'd be able to see Vega right about... there.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • With a 7-mm Nagler eyepiece, the brilliant star Vega appears pure white without a hint of color.

  • Astronomers often refer to Vega as one of the most luminous stars in the night sky.

Surface Forms

Vega main

Etymology

Vega comes from the old Arabic name al-nasr al-wāqiʿ, where wāqiʿ means 'falling' or 'swooping' and refers to an eagle. The long name was shortened to Vega in Europe, so you can remember this bright star as the sky's 'swooping eagle', a clear point to find at night.