Chameleon Star Constellation
29/03/2020
Did you
know?
There is
a CHAMELEON star constellation.
Abbreviation:
Cha
Right
Ascension: 11 hours Declination: -80 degrees
Area in
Square Degrees: 132
Crosses
Meridian: 9 PM, April 15
Visible
Between Latitudes: 0 and -90 degrees
The
constellation named "Chamaeleon", the chameleon, is located in the
southern hemisphere of the sky. It is only visible in southern latitudes south
of 0 degrees. It is a circumpolar constellation, meaning that it is visible all
night as it rotates around the south celestial pole. With a total area of only
132 square degrees, it is one of the smallest constellations in the night sky.
It ranks 79th in size among the 88 constellations. It is bordered by the
constellations Apus, Carina, Mensa, Musca, Octans, and Volans.
There is
no mythology associated with the Chameleon. The constellation is located so far
south that it was not visible to the ancient Greeks or Romans. It is one of twelve
constellations named by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius based on
observations made by Dutch navigators. It first appeared on a celestial globe
published by Plancius in 1597. It was later included Johann Bayer's star atlas
in 1603. It was depicted as a chameleon sticking its tongue out to catch the
fly represented by the neighboring constellation Musca, which was originally
called Apis (the bee) but changed to Musca by Lacaille later on.
The
Chameleon has a clear affinity to the fly (Musca, originally bee - Apis).
For detailed info click below:
Author: Petr Nečas