Information About

Chamaeleon





Constellation| Information

  Name Chamaeleon
  Abbreviation Cha
  Genitive Chamaeleontis
  Symbology Chameleon
  RA 11
  Dec &minus80
  Areatotal 132
  Arearank 79th
  Numbermainstars 3
  Numberbfstars 16
  Numberstarsplanets 1
  Numberbrightstars 0
  Numbernearbystars 0
  Brighteststarname α Cha
  Starmagnitude 405
  Neareststarname α Cha
  Stardistance 635
  Numbermessierobjects 0
  Meteorshowers None
  Bordering Musca <br /> Carina <br /> Volans <br /> Mensa <br /> Octans <br /> Apus
  Latmax 0
  Latmin 90
  Month April


Chamaeleon (. The constellation was one of twelve constellations created by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick De Houtman between 1595 and 1597 , and it first appeared in Johann Bayer 's '' Uranometria '' of 1603 . In Australia it is sometimes unofficially called "the Frying Pan" when finding the south by the stars.

Since it is an invention of the 17th century and was not visible to early Mediterranean Culture s, there is no Mythology associated with it.


NOTABLE DEEP-SKY OBJECTS

In 1999, a nearby Open Cluster was discovered centered on the star η Chamaeleontis . The cluster, known as either
the Eta Chamaeleontis Cluster or Mamajek 1, is 8 million years old, and lies 316 Light Years from Earth.Luhman, K.L. & Steeghs, D. 2004, ApJ, 609, 917

The constellation contains a number of Molecular Clouds (the Chamaeleon dark clouds) that are forming low-mass T Tauri Star s. The cloud complex lies some 400 to 600 Light Years from Earth, and contains tens of thousands of solar masses of gas and dust.


REFERENCES


  • Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Collins Stars and Planets Guide'', HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.



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