History and Mythology
This constellation has been known as a bird since Greek times around 1200 B.C. It has been the eagle that holds the thunderbolts of Zeus and the eagle that kidnapped Ganymede the waterbearer (see Aquarius). In Indian mythology, the three bright stars of Aquila were the footprints of Vishnu. In Japanese, Chinese, and Korean mythology, Altair is Ch'ien Niu, the keeper of the royal herds. He fell in love with one of the sun king's (the sun king is represented as Vega in Lyra) daughters, Chih Nu. They fell so in love that they neglected their duties, and for this they were seperated. It is said that they reach across the heavens and see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month on a clear day, because the floods of a rainy day would keep them apart. This day is known as Tanabata, a holiday that some Japanese still celebrate.
Stars
alpha-Altair-Arabic name for entire constellation. Is part of Summer Triangle along with Vega (alpha Lyra) and Deneb (alpha Cygnus) Spectral Type-A7 IV-V Magnitude-.8 Distance-17 ly
beta-Alshain-they think it comes from Persian name for the constellation. This double star's companion is of 11.9 magnitude and very hard to see Spectral Type-G8 IV Magnitude-3.7 Distance-36 ly
gamma-Tarazed-they think this is also from the Persian name for the constellation Spectral Type-K3 II Magnitude-2.7 Distance-285 ly
delta-Denebokab-tail of the eagle Spectral Type-F0 IV Magnitude-3.4 Distance-52 ly
epsilon-in the wing of the eagle Spectral Type-K2 III Magnitude-4.0 Distance-210 ly
zeta-this double star is very difficult to see, because the 12 magnitude partner is very close to this star Spectral Type-B9 V Magnitude-3.0 Distance-105 ly
eta-this Cepheid variable, like all others, is a supergiant It changes from 4.5 to 3.7 every 7.176 days It also changes spectral type from G2 to F6 Distance-1450 ly
theta-Spectral Type-B9 III Magnitude3.2 Distance-200 ly
iota-this double star is not easy to spot in small telescopes because the other star is 13 magnitude Spectral Type-B5 III Magnitude-4.4 Distance-590 ly
lambda-Spectral Type-B8 V Magnitude-3.4 Distance-160 ly
V- one of the reddest stars in the sky when it is up -Spectral Type-N Magnitude-6.6 to 8.4 Distance-unknown
sigma-binary star Spetral Type-B3 V Magnitude-5.2 Distance620 ly
Star Clusters
Located a few degrees southwest of zeta is NGC 6709, an open cluster of 8th magnitude. Located 3,100 ly away, this cluster shows about 40 stars in a small telescope. Another cluster of 8th magnitude is NGC 6755, and it has stars as bright as 12th magnitude. It is near delta, and is located 4,900 ly away. NGC 6756 is close to 6755, is an open cluster, and is 5,400 ly away. NGC 6760 is a globular of 11th magnitude which looks like a furr star in a telescope. It is located 13,000 ly away.
Nebulae
Many small ones that are nearly impossible to find in telescopes.
Galaxies
NGC 6814 is a very dim spiral galaxy that is difficult to see in a small telescope.