Chamaeleon: The Chameleon
cuh-MEAL-yun/cuh-MEAL-ee-un
Chamaeleon as depicted by Johannes Hevelius in his Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687).
| Chamealeon Constellation Profile | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Cha | Genitive: Chamaeleontis | Origin: Keyser/de Houtman |
| Location: Southern Hemisphere | Size/Area: 132 sq. deg. | Size Rank: 79 |
| On Meridian: 9pm April 15th | Best View (North): | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Octans, Apus, Musca, Carina, Volans, Mensa | ||
The Myth Behind the Constellation Chamaeleon
Dutch navigators Keyser and de Houtman created the constellation Chamaeleon, “The Chameleon” at the end of the sixteenth century. Chameleons are small lizards that can change their colors based on their environments. They are common in Madagascar where the Dutch fleet resupplied on their way to the East Indies.
Chamaeleon Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.
Bright Stars in Chamaeleon
There are no stars in Chamaeleon with a magnitude of 3.0 or brighter.