When is the best time to observe Delta Chamaeleontis?

Delta Chamaeleontis is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Delta Chamaeleontis located in the sky?

Delta Chamaeleontis lies in the constellation Chamaeleon at right ascension 10h 45m and declination -80° 28′.

What telescope do I need to split Delta Chamaeleontis?

Splitting Delta Chamaeleontis requires an aperture of roughly 280 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 0.8″ at magnitudes near 5.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Delta Chamaeleontis — Double Star in Chamaeleon

HIP 52595; Delta1 Chamaeleontis

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Chamaeleon (Cha) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.47

Spectral Type K0III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.95)

Distance 1,087 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 10h 45m 15.7s

Dec -80° 28' 11.0"

Constellation Chamaeleon (Cha)

HR 4231

HIP 52595

HD 93779

SAO 258592

Bayer Delta1

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 6.5 mag Separation 0.8″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Hard	Hard	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Hard	Hard	Hard

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 280 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Jan – Mar (peak: Feb)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 0.8″

Companion Mag 6.5

Position Angle 89°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer I 294

Separation over time

Measured 1901 → 2019 (118 y)

Separation drift 0.60" → 0.80" (+0.20")

Rate +0.0017" / y

PA drift 61° → 89° (+28°, +0.237°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.