The constellations of Cygnus, the Swan, and Lyra, the Lyre. Lyra is seen at right; its brightest star, Vega, dominates the image. Vega is the fifth brightest star in the sky and lies about 27 light years away; a near neighbour by stellar standards. Cygnus (left) is a large and conspicuous northern constellation, its five brightest stars form the Northern Cross. Brightest of the five is Deneb, or Alpha Cygni, the prominent star at upper left. Deneb is a very luminous, remote, white supergiant star. In Greek mythology, Cygnus was the bird into which Zeus transformed himself when visiting the King of Sparta's wife, Leda. The star colours in this image have been photographically enhanced.