SIMBAD references

Constraints on the distances to the dark clouds Chamaeleon I and II are investigated in detail. A compilation of photometric data, spectral types and absolute magnitudes for field stars towards each cloud is presented, and results are used to examine the distribution of reddening with distance along each line of sight. The distances to stars associated with reflection nebulae in each cloud are examined in detail. On the basis of these results, we deduce the most probable distance of Cha I to be 160±15pc, and that of Cha II to be 178±18pc. An examination of the mean fluxes of T Tauri stars in each cloud provides independent evidence to suggest that Cha II is significantly more distant than Cha I. Both clouds appear to be embedded in a macroscopic sheet-like structure extending over much of the Chamaeleon-Musca-Crux region. The Chamaeleon III and DC 300.2-16.9 clouds are probably part of the same structure, with probable distances ∼140-160pc.