events
July 17, 1850
Vega became the first star (other than the Sun) to be photographed.
Vega
Vega is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Lyra. It has the Bayer designation α Lyrae, which is Latinised to Alpha Lyrae and abbreviated Alpha Lyr or α Lyr. This star is relatively close at only 25 light-years from the Sun, and one of the most luminous stars in the Sun's neighborhood. It is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky, and the second-brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus.
July 17
July 17 is the 198th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 167 days remain until the end of the year.