The Constellation Chamaeleon

by Dominic Ford
Chamaeleon Chamaeleon
The constellation Chamaeleon. Roll mouse over to see labels.
Source: Stellarium.

Chamaeleon is the tenth smallest constellation. It lies close to the south celestial pole, where it appears highest in the evening sky in the months around February.

It was among a dozen constellations introduced by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman which celebrate rare or exotic animals, and first appeared on star maps in 1598.

Chamaeleon does not contain any bright stars or deep sky objects; the lizard's body is represented by a grouping of fourth-magnitude stars. It contains one Caldwell object, the planetary nebula C109 (NGC 3195).

Date First Appeared
1598 (Keyser & de Houtman)
Sky Area
0.3% of the sky
131.6 square degrees
Messier Objects
Chamaeleon contains no Messier objects
Caldwell Objects
Chamaeleon contains the following Caldwell object: C109.
The following constellations neighbor Chamaeleon: Apus, Carina, Mensa, Musca, Octans, Volans.
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Brightest Objects in Chamaeleon

Stars Open Clusters Globular Clusters Galaxies
Stars Open Clusters Globular Clusters Galaxies
α-Cha (mag 4.1) NGC 2915 (mag 12.7)
γ-Cha (mag 4.1) NGC 3149 (mag 12.9)
β-Cha (mag 4.2) IC 3104 (mag 13.7)
θ-Cha (mag 4.3) NGC 3620 (mag 15.9)
δ²-Cha (mag 4.4)
ε-Cha (mag 4.9)
κ-Cha (mag 5.0)
ζ-Cha (mag 5.1)
ι-Cha (mag 5.3)
η-Cha (mag 5.4)
ν-Cha (mag 5.4)
μ-Cha (mag 5.5)
δ¹-Cha (mag 5.6)
π-Cha (mag 5.6)
HD 72922 (mag 5.7)
HD 76236 (mag 5.8)
HD 114533 (mag 5.8)
HD 120213 (mag 5.9)
HD 93237 (mag 6.0)
RS Cha (mag 6.1)
HD 80194 (mag 6.1)
HD 92209 (mag 6.3)
HD 118285 (mag 6.3)
HD 101782 (mag 6.3)
HD 106248 (mag 6.3)




Color scheme