- Aries is the first sign of the zodiac (March 21April 19)
- Taurus is the sign of the bull (April 20May 20)
- Gemini is a sign of the zodiac (May 21June 20)
- Cancer is a disease that affects people (June 21July 22)
- Leo is a sign of the zodiac (July 23August 22)
- Virgo is the sign of the Virgin (August 23September 22)
- Libra is a sign of the zodia (September 23October 22)
- Scorpio is a zodiac sign that (October 23November 21)
- Sagittarius is the sign of the eagle (November 22December 21)
- Capricorn is a sign in the zodiac that (December 22January 19)
- Aquarius is the sign of the water bearer (January 20February 18)
- Pisces is a water sign (February 19March 20)
In This Article...
What are the 12 signs of the zodiac?
Astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth’s 360-degree orbit around the Sun in Western astrology. The signs begin on the vernal equinox, which is the first day of spring and is known as the First Point of Aries. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are the zodiac signs. The Western zodiac has its origins in Babylonian astrology and was influenced by Hellenistic culture later on. Each sign was named after a constellation that the sun passed through every year as it crossed the sky. This point is underlined in the popular and simple sun sign astrology. By axial precession of the Earth, Western astrology’s zodiacal divisions have shifted out of alignment with the stars they were named after over the millennia, whereas Hindu astrology measurements have corrected for this moving. Chinese and Tibetan cultures developed astrology (a system of omina based on celestial appearances), but these astrologies are not based on the zodiac and instead deal with the entire sky.
Astrology is a debunked scientific theory. It has no scientific validity or explanatory capacity, according to scientific analyses of the theoretical underpinning and experimental verification of assertions.
Celestial occurrences, according to astrology, are related to human action on the concept of “as above, so below,” with the signs representing distinct modalities of expression. Until the 19th century, scientific astronomy and Western astrology both employed the same sectors of the ecliptic.
Different systems of astrology now utilize various techniques of measuring and dividing the sky, yet the names and symbols of the Zodiac have mostly remained consistent. The Equinox and Solstice points (points pertaining to equal, longest, and shortest days of the tropical year) are used in Western astrology, while the equatorial plane is used in Hindu astrology (sidereal year).
Is the study of zodiac signs astrology or astronomy?
The 12 signs of the zodiac, as mentioned in a horoscope, are inextricably linked to the Earth’s motion through the sky. The constellations that point out the path that the sun appears to take during the year provide us with these indicators. Dates in a horoscope may appear to match to when the sun travels through each constellation. They don’t always agree, though, because astrology and astronomy are two separate systems. Plus, a closer look at the Earth, the sun, and the stars reveals that the zodiac is more complicated than you might think!
The sun’s motion through the constellations
The sun appears to pass in front of numerous constellations as Earth revolves the sun. The sun’s position in relation to distant background stars drifts in an easterly direction from day to day, much how the moon appears in a little different spot in the sky each night. It’s not as if the sun isn’t moving. Its movement is totally fictitious, owing to Earth’s own rotation around our star.
The sun appears to be in front of, or “in,” different constellations throughout the year. The sun appears in Gemini one month and Cancer the next. The dates in the newspaper’s horoscope indicate when the sun is in a specific astrological sign. For example, the sign Aries is represented by the period between March 21 and April 19. However, your astrological sign does not always indicate which constellation the sun was in when you were born.
Why the zodiac constellations don’t always align with astrological signs
We need to know a little bit more about how the Earth moves to explain why constellations no longer coincide with their respective signs. We must also discuss how we measure time.
Time is a fiendishly difficult concept to grasp, especially if we insist on using the sun and stars as our point of reference. For better or worse, our calendar is based on the seasons. The day the sun appears at its most northerly point in the sky is June 21, the approximate date of the summer solstice north of the equator and the winter solstice south of the equator. The North Pole is most inclined towards the sun at the June solstice.
The fact that the North Pole does not always point in the same direction as the background stars complicates things. Our world whirls around like a top. The Earth, like a top, wobbles! The North Pole traces a circle on the celestial sphere due to the Earth’s wobble. The wobbling is slow; it takes 26,000 years to complete one rotation. However, as time passes, the effect becomes more pronounced.
The direction of the Earth’s axis drifts somewhat throughout the course of one orbit around the sun. This means that the location of the solstice along our orbit changes by a very modest amount. The solstice occurs around 20 minutes before one full trip in front of the background stars!
Our drifting calendars
Because we base our calendar on the solstices and equinoxes (and astrologers on the signs), the Earth does not complete an orbit in a single year. The tropical or seasonal year is really a fraction of a second shorter than one full orbit (sidereal year). This means that the sun’s position in relation to the stars on any particular day varies throughout the year. For example, on June 21, a very small amount of snow falls.
However, after 2,000 years, the sun will be in a completely other constellation!
The sun was nearly halfway between Gemini and Cancer on the June solstice 2,000 years ago. The sun was between Gemini and Taurus on the June solstice fourteen years ago. In the year 4609, the June solstice point will move from Taurus to Aries, leaving Taurus behind.
When humanity formed the present Western zodiac some 2,000 years ago, the signs were roughly aligned with their respective constellations. However, the steady wobble of the Earth’s axis has led the solstice and equinox locations to shift around 30 degrees westward relative to the constellations in the intervening ages. Signs and constellations are currently around one calendar month off. They’ll be approximately two months away in another two thousand years or so.
Modern constellations and the zodiac
To make matters even more complicated, unlike astrological signs, constellations are not all the same size and shape. For the most part, the stars that make up a constellation are not physically related. They’re simply based on patterns that our forefathers noticed when they looked up at the sky, trying to make sense of it all.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) established the constellations as sky regions, not only star patterns, in 1930. They established the boundaries we use today as a result of this. These current constellations are based on those introduced in the second century CE by Greek astronomer Ptolemy. He, in turn, took them from Babylonian scriptures dating back thousands of years. Throughout history, several societies have seen patterns in the sky that are unique to them. Some constellations are shared by many cultures (Orion is a good example), but not all.
There are actually 13 constellations that lay along the path of the sun, based on the present borders. Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, sits between Sagittarius and Scorpius and is not mentioned in any horoscope. The signs stay stable in relation to the solstices and equinoxes, while the solstices and equinoxes shift westward in relation to the constellations or backdrop stars.
While the zodiac isn’t a fantastic predictor of love, fortune, or health, it is an excellent tool for better understanding the sun’s, Earth’s, and even the cultures that have come and gone on our small planet. The zodiac signs, which are drawn from constellations that line the path of the sun in the sky, trace Earth’s orbit and wobble and serve as a reminder of astronomy’s humble beginnings.
Bottom line: While you may identify the term zodiac with astrology, it also has a prestigious role in astronomy. The 12 constellations that make up the zodiac are located along the sun’s annual motion across the sky.
Aries, who should you marry?
Libra (opposites attract), Sagittarius, and Leo are the most compatible signs for Aries in friendship and romantic relationships (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language).
Is there any truth to the zodiac signs?
Is astrology accurate? Reading horoscopes is a popular pastime, but is there any scientific evidence that they are accurate?
When you’re enticed by a familiar interruption and your willpower weakens, problems can occur.
Every day, up to 70 million Americans consult their horoscopes. At least, that’s what the American Federation of Astrologers claims. According to a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life poll conducted twenty years ago, 25% of Americans believe that the positions of the stars and planets have an impact on our daily life. In 2012, the General Social Survey indicated that 34% of Americans think astrology is “extremely” or “kind of scientific,” with the percentage of individuals who think astrology is “not at all scientific” dropping from two-thirds to about half.
Astrology is the concept that astronomical phenomena, such as the stars over your head when you were born or the fact that Mercury is retrograde, have the potential to influence our daily lives and personality traits. Of course, this is distinct from astronomy, which is the scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the physics of the cosmos.
A particular facet of astrology, the foretelling of a person’s future or the provision of daily counsel via horoscopes, is gaining in popularity. The Cut, for example, recorded a 150 percent rise in horoscope page views in 2017 compared to 2016.
Clearly, a lot of people are trying to figure out how to read the stars for guidance. Understanding the positions of the stars is the foundation of astrology, which appears to be a scientific discipline in and of itself. Is there any scientific evidence that astrology has an impact on our personalities and lives?
But, since I still have five minutes of this six-minute podcast to fill, let’s take a look at how astrology has been put to the test.
How to get a clearer picture
After you’ve determined your sun sign, you’ll need to look through your astrological charts, which are made up of three elements. The Sun sign, which is most people’s dominant zodiac sign, is the part of your horoscope that represents your ego. Then there’s your Moon sign, which influences your emotional outlook; finally, there’s your rising sign, which is your public face. This is a more difficult yet accurate method of estimating. With that said, you should be aware that the planets can impact or lessen every aspect of your horoscope.
Compatibility of zodiac signs in a love relationship
Many sites on the internet use a pair of matching signs, such as Gemini and Aries, to describe zodiac sign compatibility. But what if you’re looking for a compatible zodiac mate but aren’t sure what sign they belong to? Based on your zodiac sign, here are some traits of your possible interest:
- Aries is a self-assured achiever who can keep up with them.
- Someone who is self-assured, secretive, and capable of keeping them on their toes is a Leo.
- Sagittarius is a free-spirited, open-minded soul who does not strive to change others.
- Taurus is a devoted and amorous sign with only them in mind.
- Someone who is smart, complex, ambitious, and devoted is a Virgo.
- Capricorn is a sophisticated, fashionable, and intriguing spirit who can keep their mind occupied while being faithful.
- Gemini: a person with a sharp mind, a good sense of humor, and enough diversity to keep things interesting.
- Libra is a person with good looks, intelligence, and self-assurance.
- Aquarius: a dedicated but fun-loving individual with a wicked sense of humour and a culinary talent.
- Cancer is a sensuous, clever, and affectionate person with an empathic heart.
- Scorpio is attracted to people who can test them and feed off their passion and intensity.
- Pisces: someone with self-assurance, a creative intellect, and the capacity to connect with others.
What Are the Most Compatible Zodiac Signs for Friendships?
Friendships are an important aspect of one’s life. Nothing beats having a friend at your side with whom you can share everything and who will always be there for you. Astrology has a lot to say about compatibility, especially in nature; reading someone’s zodiac sign can give you an idea of their friendship. The zodiac sun sign pairs that are the most compatible are:
People believe in astrology for a variety of reasons.
Astrology has been shown in studies to significantly impact and even validate a person’s self-concept, as well as improve their confidence in their unique characteristics. In short, astrology’s ruminative nature stimulates self-reflection, allowing people to better understand themselves and their surroundings.
Is there a difference between astrology and the zodiac?
Astrology is the science of interpreting and predicting occurrences on Earth by observing the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations in the zodiac. This is not the same as astronomy. The zodiac is a ring of constellations that lay east of the vernal equinox that includes Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. Astrologers frequently use the zodiac constellations to explain and forecast occurrences on Earth. Precession of the Earth’s axis has altered the position of the Sun relative to the zodiac signs by one month, as reported in daily newspapers, because the zodiac constellations were designated 2,000 years ago.
