Camelopardalis constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
Camelopardalis (Cam) is a northern constellation covering 757 square degrees, number 18 of 88 by size. It has no bright stars — the brightest is magnitude 4.2, so you need a dark sky. It is best seen in the evening in January. Over London it never sets and is visible all year. Its neighbours in the sky: Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Lynx, Perseus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor.
Area: 757 square degrees, 18 of 88 · Neighbours: Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Lynx, Perseus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Camelopardalis
- 1
When to look
The best time is in January in the evening: in the north, around 20:26.
- 2
Use the neighbours
Find it from the neighbouring constellations: Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco.
- 3
Brightest stars
The brightest stars of the figure: HR 1035 (4.2ᵐ), α Cam (4.3ᵐ), Shaowei (4.6ᵐ).
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January — february | in the north, around 20:26 | in the evening |
| March — april | in the northwest, around 19:17 | in the evening |
| May | in the north, around 22:24 | in the evening |
| June | in the north, around 02:36 | before dawn |
| July — august | in the northeast, around 03:00 | before dawn |
| September — october | in the north, around 05:13 | before dawn |
| November — december | in the north, around 00:28 | around midnight |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| HR 1035 | blue-white supergiant | 4.2ᵐ |
| α Cam | blue supergiant | 4.3ᵐ |
| Shaowei · γ Cam | white subgiant | 4.6ᵐ |
| HR 1204 | blue-white main-sequence star | 5.0ᵐ |
| HR 1686 | yellow-white main-sequence star | 5.1ᵐ |
Camelopardalis FAQ
When is the best time to see Camelopardalis?
Where is Camelopardalis in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Camelopardalis?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0