Constellation · Cam
Camelopardalis
The Giraffe
A large but very faint northern constellation, circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1612.
Magnitude 4.03
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (winter in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Named stars in Camelopardalis
Brightest first. A lower magnitude means a brighter star.
- Tonatiuhmag 5.78
Can you see Camelopardalis from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Camelopardalis |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 40°N | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 20°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| 40°S | Never rises |
| 60°S | Never rises |
Questions about Camelopardalis
When is Camelopardalis best seen?
Camelopardalis stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in January. That makes winter evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Camelopardalis?
The brightest star in Camelopardalis is Beta Camelopardalis, magnitude 4.03.
Where on Earth can you see Camelopardalis?
The whole of Camelopardalis can be seen from latitudes between about 4°S and 90°N. From 40°N: Visible all night, all year (it never sets). From 35°S: Only part of it ever clears the horizon.
What does Camelopardalis mean?
Camelopardalis is Latin for "the Giraffe". Added by European astronomers in the 1500s and early 1600s.