Chamaeleon constellation

Chamaeleon (the Chameleon) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in April. Its brightest star is α Chamaeleontis (magnitude 4.07). Chamaeleon covers 132 square degrees and is the 78th-largest of the 88 constellations.

Updated: 2026-11-01

Chamaeleon constellation: the main stars connected by lines — The shape of Chamaeleon: its brighter stars joined by the traditional stick figure.

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Detailed star map of Chamaeleon

Chamaeleon constellation star map with lines connecting the stars, the brightest stars labeled (Greek letters), the IAU boundary and neighboring constellations — Map of Chamaeleon: lines connect the stars of the traditional figure, the dashed line is the official IAU boundary. Star names and Greek letters mark the brightest stars.

Facts

Latin name	Chamaeleon (genitive: Chamaeleontis)
Abbreviation	Cha
Meaning	the Chameleon
Area	132 square degrees (78th of 88)
Location	right ascension 10.7 h, declination −80°
Visible from	latitudes 7° N to 90° S (whole constellation)
Best month	April (at about 9 pm)
Brightest star	α Chamaeleontis
Stars brighter than magnitude 6	19
Named stars (IAU)	none
Messier objects	none
Neighbors	Apus, Carina, Mensa, Musca, Octans, Volans

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Chamaeleon

From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Chamaeleon never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 45° up. The months before and after (March and May) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.

Chamaeleon borders Apus, Carina, Mensa, Musca, Octans and Volans.

Where Chamaeleon is in the night sky, shown among its neighbors Apus, Carina, Mensa, Musca, Octans and Volans — Chamaeleon (highlighted) among the neighboring constellations. Bright stars are named for orientation.

Stars of Chamaeleon

Chamaeleon has 19 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:

Star	Designation	Magnitude	Type	Distance
—	α Chamaeleontis	4.07	F5III	—
—	γ Chamaeleontis	4.11	M0III	—
—	β Chamaeleontis	4.26	B5Vn	—
—	θ Chamaeleontis	4.35	K2IIICN0.5	—
—	δ2 Chamaeleontis	4.45	B2.5IV	—

Printable Chamaeleon map and outline

A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Chamaeleon figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.

Printable black and white map of the Chamaeleon constellation with star names, lines and boundary

Chamaeleon constellation outline: the stick figure of Chamaeleon without labels

History

Chamaeleon is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.