Visual bandlight curves for R Chamaeleontis. The upper plot shows AAVSO data, and the lower plot shows ASAS-SN data folded with the star's period of 338 days.
This star was first reported to be variable in 1906, it was the first variable star to be discovered in the constellation of Chamaeleon.
R Cha has a stellar classification that has been recorded between M4e near maximum and M8e near minimum. It is an asymptotic giant branch star that has exhausted its core hydrogen and helium and is now fusing hydrogen and helium in separate shells outside its core. It has expanded to about 246R☉ although this varies as it pulsates. It radiates about 4,600L☉ despite its relatively low surface temperature around 3,000K. The effective temperature also varies as the star pulsates, corresponding to the change in the spectral class.
12Anders, F.; Khalatyan, A.; Queiroz, A. B. A.; Chiappini, C.; Ardevol, J.; Casamiquela, L.; Figueras, F.; Jimenez-Arranz, O.; Jordi, C.; Monguio, M.; Romero-Gomez, M.; Altamirano, D.; Antoja, T.; Assaad, R.; Cantat-Gaudin, T.; Castro-Ginard, A.; Enke, H.; Girardi, L.; Guiglion, G.; Khan, S.; Luri, X.; Miglio, A.; Minchev, I.; Ramos, P.; Santiago, B. X.; Steinmetz, M. (2022). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: StarHorse2, Gaia EDR3 photo-astrometric distances (Anders+, 2022)". Vizier Online Data Catalog. Bibcode:2022yCat.1354....0A.
↑Pickering, E. C.; Colson, H. R.; Fleming, W. P.; Wells, L. D. (1901). "Sixty-four new variable stars". The Astrophysical Journal. 13: 226. Bibcode:1901ApJ....13..226P. doi:10.1086/140808.
↑Skiff, B. A. (October 2014). "Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications". Lowell Observatory. VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/mk. Bibcode:2014yCat....1.2023S.
↑Celis s., L. (1977). "Light and colour variations of the Mira stars". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 29: 15. Bibcode:1977A&AS...29...15C.