Chamaeleon is a tiny constellation in the southern sky and is named after the lizard. The 16th century was the first time it was defined.
Chamaeleon was one of Petrus Plancius' twelve constellations, based on observations by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman. (Ridpath & Tirion 2017) It first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe issued by Plancius and Jodocus Hondius in Amsterdam in 1597-58. The first uranographer to include Chamaeleon in a celestial atlas was Johann Bayer. It was one of many constellations established by European travellers in the 15th and 16th centuries using stars from the Southern Hemisphere that were foreign to them. (Staal 1988) |
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Mythology
Xu Guangqi classed the stars that makeup Chamaeleon as the Little Dipper (小斗, Xiǎodǒu) among the Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu) in Chinese astronomy. In Australia, the Chamaeleon is also known as the Frying Pan.
Xu Guangqi classed the stars that makeup Chamaeleon as the Little Dipper (小斗, Xiǎodǒu) among the Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu) in Chinese astronomy. In Australia, the Chamaeleon is also known as the Frying Pan.
Deep-sky Objects
NGC 3195 – Planetary Nebula
IC 2631 – Reflection nebula
Molecular clouds are associated with this constellation known as the Chamaeleon dark clouds which is a star-forming region.
Bordering
constellations
Main stars - 3
Bayer stars - 16
Stars with planets - 1
Stars brighter than 3.00m - 0
Stars within 32 ly - 0
NGC 3195 – Planetary Nebula
IC 2631 – Reflection nebula
Molecular clouds are associated with this constellation known as the Chamaeleon dark clouds which is a star-forming region.
Bordering
constellations
- Musca
- Carina
- Volans
- Mensa
- Octans
- Apus
Main stars - 3
Bayer stars - 16
Stars with planets - 1
Stars brighter than 3.00m - 0
Stars within 32 ly - 0