Ancient astronomers deduced that the Sun would appear to “enter” or pass through several constellations during the year based on their observations of the night sky. Because of their vantage point on Earth, they saw that the Sun, Moon, and all visible planets seemed to travel through a region in the sky occupied by twelve distinct constellations over the course of a year. Those are the constellations that we would cross if we extended the ecliptic plane out into space. The Zodiac was named after these twelve constellations. Many ancient people believed that the time of one’s birth, or one’s zodiac sign, had a significant impact on one’s conduct, feelings, and fate.
Ancient astronomers assigned distinct patterns to the zodiac constellations, which resembled the shapes of animals and humans. As illustrated, the zodiac constellations form an imagined belt in the sky that stretches eight degrees above and below the ecliptic plane. When we look at the position of the zodiac constellations at any given time of year, we can see that the Sun is between the Earth and one of them, as shown in Figure3.
Because of our geography expertise, we are familiar with the Earth’s equator. We could observe what is known as the celestial equator in astronomy if we could extend the earth’s equator into space and view it against a background of stars. The celestial equator and the ecliptic do not sit on the same plane as the ecliptic because the Earth’s axis of rotation is inclined by 23.5 degrees with respect to theecliptic, as seen in Figure 2. The equinoxes are the two spots in the sky when these two planes cross. The vernal equinox is the point at which the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north in its apparent motion against the background stars along the ecliptic, which normally occurs around March 21st. Similarly, the autumnal equinox, which occurs around September 21st, is the moment at which the Sun, in its apparent motion against the background stars along the ecliptic, crosses the celestial equator from north to south. The vernal equinox occurs on the first day of Spring, and the autumnal equinox occurs on the first day of Fall. We on the Earth enjoy twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night during the equinoxes.
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What are the true dates for each zodiac sign?
According to Western astrology, there are 12 zodiac signs (meaning “signs of the zodiac”) “There are 13 constellations that the Sun travels through each year, not just a circle of animals:
Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Ophiuchus, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Unfortunately, astrologers’ dates given to star signs are incorrect, in addition to neglecting Ophiuchus. Here’s what astrology claims happens in the night sky, based on its line-of-sight theory “Insights into people’s moods and fortunes:
The Sun’s position in the sky according to astrology (wrong)
Here’s where and when astrologers pretend the Sun is in the sky, dictating what the majority of people believe their birth star sign is:
- December 22nd to January 19th is Capricorn’s sign.
- January 20-February 18 is the sign of Aquarius.
- February 19March 20: Pisces
- Aries (March 21April 19) is the first sign of the zodiac.
- Taurus (April 20May 20) is the zodiac sign of Taurus.
- May 21June 20: Gemini
- Cancer is on the 21st of June and 22nd of July.
- Leo (July 23August 22) is the sign of the lion.
- August 23September 22: Virgo
- September 23October 22: Libra
- Scorpio: 23rd October 21st November
- November 22December 21: Sagittarius
The Sun’s actual position in the sky (correct)
This is when the Sun is in the constellations, hence your true “star sign,” with some astrological overlap and plenty of surprises:
- January 20February 16: Capricorn
- Aquarius: February 16th through March 11th
- Pisces (March 11April 18) is a water sign.
- April 18May 13: Aries
- May 13June 21: Taurus
- June 21July 20: Gemini
- July 20August 10 (Cancer) (21 days)
- August 10September 16 is the sign of Leo.
- September 16October 30 (45 days!) Virgo
- 30th of October 23rd of November
- Scorpio: November 23November 29 (just a week!) Scorpio: November 23November 29 (just a week!) Scorpio: November 23
- Ophiuchus (not an astrological sign of the zodiac, but very real!): November 29December 17 (not an astrological sign of the zodiac, but very real!)
- December 17th January 20th, Sagittarius
Because the Sun isn’t in the sign of the zodiac when astrology says it is, your horoscope is probably incorrect. Of course, none of this matters, but knowing why will help you have a better knowledge of the globe you live on.