The Chamaeleon constellation
Cha · Catalogue stars: 6
Why this name?
The constellation is named after the chameleon, a lizard that seemed unusual to Europeans. Some old charts show it stretching its tongue towards neighbouring Musca, the Fly.
A little history
Chamaeleon appeared on European charts of the southern sky in the late sixteenth century following observations by seafarers. It was included in Bayer’s Uranometria of 1603.
Data
- IAU code
- Cha
- Catalogue stars
- 6
- Messier objects
- 0
- Brightest star
- HIP 40702 · 4.0ᵐ
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 40702 · 4.0ᵐ · F5III
- HIP 51839 · 4.1ᵐ · M0III
- HIP 60000 · 4.2ᵐ · B5Vn
- HIP 40888 · 4.3ᵐ · K0III-IV
- HIP 52633 · 4.5ᵐ · B2.5IV
- HIP 58484 · 4.9ᵐ · B9Vn
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | never rises | — |
| +30° | never rises | — |
| 0° | 11° | 169° |
| −35° | 46° · never sets | — |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 02:38 |
| February | 00:31 |
| March | 22:46 |
| April | 20:52 |
| May | 18:58 |
| June | 16:52 |
| July | 14:48 |
| August | 12:47 |
| September | 10:54 |
| October | 09:05 |
| November | 07:04 |
| December | 04:56 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Chamaeleon?
HIP 40702 — 4.0ᵐ.