Chamaeleon Constellation Myths and Facts

Chamaeleon: The Chameleon

Pronunciation: cuh-MEAL-yun/cuh-MEAL-ee-un
Chamaeleon, The Chameleon
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
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.