Did you know that the night sky has 88 constellations? Humans have cataloged and labeled them all over the period of thousands of years. However, only 12 are exceptionally well-known and continue to play a role in modern astrological systems. The zodiac signs are a set of 12 constellations that correlate to the various months of the year.
Starting at the vernal equinox, one of the intersections of the ecliptic with the celestial equator, each of these takes up a sector of the sky that makes up 30 of the ecliptic. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are the astrological signs in the following order: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Here is a list of all the zodiac signs and their associated dates. Your zodiac sign is determined by your birthdate falling inside one of those dates.
Granted, current science has proven astrology to be an ancient fallacy, a method of correlating celestial motions to events and behaviors on Earth. However, given their lack of understanding of human psychology, astronomy, and the reality that Earth was not the center of the universe, such patterns were vital for ancient humans.
In This Article...
After Aquarius, what comes next?
We are currently transiting towards the Age of Aquarius, according to astrology. When this cycle draws to a close, we shall enter the Age of Capricorn for the second time.
While the exact dates are unknown, the Age of Capricorn is thought to begin approximately 3,500 to 4,000 AD (circle the dates LOL!!). While the Age of Aquarius encourages people to think about more than themselves, the Capricorn energy will usher in a new era in civilization.
Try the 7 Aquarian Mantras for some peace of mind if we’re getting ahead of ourselves and you’re still figuring out how to deal with today. They are a potent technique to tune in to the current transformational moment.
The Trouble With Measuring Astrological Ages
Astrologers utilize a variety of techniques to calculate astrological ages. One popular method is to consider our solar system and how long it takes to travel around our galaxy (roughly 25,000 years). The cycle is then divided into twelve astrological ages (about 2,100 years) that correspond to the twelve zodiac signs.
The zodiac constellation behind the sun on the vernal equinox is in the sign of Aquarius in the Age of Aquarius. When the backdrop constellation moves from Aquarius to Capricorn, the Age of Aquarius ends and the Age of Capricorn begins. But this isn’t a case of one night’s stars being this and the next night’s being that. It occurs over a several hundred-year transition period.
As a result, it’s easy to see why there’s no definitive answer to when one Age begins and the next finishes. It’s difficult to estimate each Age accurately since they’re so long.
The Age of Capricorn Is Coming
Each zodiac (or sun) sign, according to astrology, shows a person’s actual essence. At birth, we are allocated a zodiac sign based on the location of the sun, and this sign remains the same for the remainder of our lives. Each of the twelve zodiac signs indicates a set of characteristics that you may or may not have seen in yourself or others.
According to Aquarius’ characteristics, the Age of Aquarius gives a strong sense of community and hope. Capricorn, on the other hand, is connected with big picture thinking and a goal-oriented mindset, and is known for isolating itself in order to succeed. It would be a fascinating transformation to witness if we were alive to witness the Age of Capricorn, don’t you think? When we enter this new period, it’s as if a group of free spirits, adventurers, and loving companions (Aquarian qualities) transform into large corporate executives and goal-oriented persons (Capricorn characteristics).
What is the order of the 12 zodiac signs?
The zodiac is a belt-shaped section of the sky that stretches approximately 8 degrees north or south of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year (as measured in celestial latitude). The Moon’s and visible planets’ courses are all within the zodiac belt.
The zodiac is divided into twelve signs in Western astrology, and formerly astronomy: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each sign occupies 30 degrees of celestial longitude and roughly corresponds to the star constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn
These astrological signs make up a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically, an ecliptic coordinate system, in which the ecliptic serves as the origin of latitude and the vernal equinox serves as the origin of longitude.
Why is Aquarius the next zodiac sign after Pisces?
Astronomy has nothing to do with the Age of Aquarius. It’s an astrological age that happens due to precession, a natural motion of the Earth. The identify of the Pole Star changes throughout time due to precession. The precession cycle lasts 25,800 years. There are also 12 zodiac constellations. As a result, the sun’s position in front of the background stars at the vernal equinox moves in front of a new zodiacal constellation every 2,150 years. At that point, a new epoch might be considered to have begun.
The vernal equinox point, also known as the March or spring equinox point, is the position of the sun in the sky at the vernal equinox. When the vernal equinox point moves from in front of the constellation Pisces to in front of the constellation Aquarius, the Age of Aquarius is said to begin.
When that happens, there should be a definitive answer. At the time of the equinox, when will the sun be in front of Aquarius? When will the Aquarius Age begin?
However, there are no easy answers. The answer to this frequently asked question can be found in a variety of ways.
Age of Aquarius in astronomy
Let’s have a look at the answer from the standpoint of astronomy. The International Astronomical Union (or IAU) took on the task of officially naming and defining all things astronomical in the twentieth century. In 1930, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established “official constellation limits.” As a result, astronomers tend to use IAU constellation borders to date the start of the Age of Aquarius. Astrologers and New Age practitioners, on the other hand, may or may not employ the same limits.
Jean Meeus, a well-known Belgian astronomer and mathematician, is one of the IAU’s adherents. In 68 B.C., the sun went from being in front of the constellation Aries to being in front of the constellation Pisces, according to his calculations. Looking ahead, the March equinox will pass into the constellation Aquarius in 2597, according to Meeus.
These are the astronomical dates, which are based on the IAU constellation limits, which were established in 1930.
The size of the constellations as defined by the IAU varies. Astrologers, on the other hand, frequently divide the zodiac into 12 equal sectors. So that’s one major distinction between astronomers and astrologers when it comes to constellations.
You must also examine when the Age of Pisces began in order to determine when the Age of Aquarius begins. There appears to be no solid agreement among astrologers as to when the Age of Pisces began. As a result, no one knows when the Age of Aquarius begins. Nicholas Campion suggests that the estimated dates for entering the Age of Aquarius span from 1447 A.D. to 3597 A.D. in his book The Book of World Horoscopes. Campion also looked at astrological sources for published material on the issue. He asserts that most authors believe the Age of Aquarius began in the twentieth century (29 claims). The twenty-fourth century comes in second (12 claims). Campion, by the way, is the director of the Sophia Centre at the University of Wales, Lampeter, as well as the Course Director for the M.A. in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. Here are Campion’s credentials.
Did it begin in 2012?
According to some astrologers, the Age of Aquarius began in 2012. This is because they believe the star Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion marks the ancient boundary between Leo and Cancer constellations. In 2012, this star passed within 30 degrees of the September equinox, indicating that Regulus transitioned from the sign of Leo to the sign of Virgo. The border of the constellations Pisces and Aquarius is 150 degrees west of Regulus, or near the March equinox point, assuming equal-sized constellations in antiquity. According to this calendar, the Age of Aquarius began in 2012.
As you can see, many people have a clear grasp on how to compute the start of an age. However, there is no agreement among the numerous people who are performing the calculations. See what various authors have claimed in these Wikipedia lists.
To be clear, we at EarthSky approach the topic from an astronomical standpoint. Please show us more methods of calculating the Age of Aquarius if any qualified astrologers are willing to do so! We look forward to hearing from you.
By the way, Terry MacKinnell reacted to our request for comments by asserting that in ancient Babylon, a new zodiacal constellation appearing over the eastern horizon before sunrise on the morning of the Northern Hemisphere spring equinox signaled the beginning of a new era. More information can be found at An Age-Old Mistake That Still Haunts Astrologers.
>Definition of terms: Vernal equinox point
The vernal equinox, often known as the March or spring equinox, is a point on the imaginary celestial sphere that surrounds Earth. The celestial equator, or line around the sky exactly above Earth’s equator, intersects the eclipticor route of the sun across our sky. Because the sun used to be in front of the constellation Aries at the time of the vernal equinox, it’s also known as the First Point in Aries. The sun has been in front of the constellation Pisces at the time of the equinox for the past 2,000 years. The significance of the so-called Piscean Age is as follows. The sun will pass through Aquarius at some time during the equinox. The Age of Aquarius begins on that date.
How did the Age of Aquarius enter popular culture?
In the United States, the Age of Aquarius is connected with the hippies of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the New Age movement. The arrival of the Aquarian age has been connected with… well, harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust aplenty in both situations. That brings us to the smash-hit musical from 1967 “The 5th Dimension’s Aquarius serves as the opening song for the film Hair. The first lines of the song were:
It’s difficult to put into words how I felt “Hair, which still appears daring now, had an impact on audiences when it premiered on Broadway in 1968. It went on to have 1,750 Broadway performances and 1,997 London performances, with parallel productions in locations around the United States and Europe, as well as supporting records (the original Broadway cast recording sold three million copies). This Broadway musical almost single-handedly launched the Aquarian Age notion into mainstream culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although the video below isn’t the original, it gives you a good sense.
Bottom line: The Age of Aquarius begins when the March equinox point shifts from Pisces to Aquarius.
But there’s no way of knowing when it will happen.
Is there any truth to the zodiac signs?
Ancient astronomers envisioned the zodiac constellations as having unique patterns that reflect the shapes of animals and humans. As illustrated, the zodiac constellations form an imagined belt in the sky that stretches about eight degrees above and below the ecliptic plane.
Is the 20th of January a Capricorn or an Aquarius?
Every year on the 19th or 20th of January, the sun exits Capricorn and enters Aquarius. If you were born on or around those dates, you may identify as a Capricorn-Aquarius cusp sign or possess Capricorn-Aquarius cusp characteristics.
According to astrology, being born on the first or last days of an astrological season does not give you a combination of the attributes of both zodiac signs. Because planets can only be in one sign at a time, your sun sign is still Capricorn, not a Capricorn-Aquarius hybrid, even if your birthday occurs on the last day of Capricorn season.
While cusp signs are a myth, it’s still feasible that someone born around the Capricorn-Aquarius cusp may connect with the energy of both signs, but this isn’t due to their birthday’s proximity to the sun’s sign shift. The fact that personality-influencing planets like Mercury and Venus travel close to the sun in the zodiac is a far better explanation. As a result, if you’re an Aquarius, you’re likely to have some significant personal planets in Capricorn, and vice versa. Understanding Capricorn-Aquarius cusp features is significant whether you were born on the cusp or not since having Capricorn and Aquarius strongly activated in your birth chart can offer you a blend of qualities from both signs regardless of when your birthday falls.
During the darkest period of the winter season, Capricorn season, which begins on the date of the winter solstice, allows us to buckle down and focus on our tangible goals. However, as the sun enters airy Aquarius and the days grow longer, our attention shifts outward, pushing us to cultivate a stronger feeling of community and work together to create a brighter future. Because each sign’s energy builds on the meaning of the one preceding it, as the sun travels through the so-called Capricorn-Aquarius cusp each year, all signs have an opportunity to connect with its transitional mood.
While being a cusp sign in astrology isn’t a genuine thing, you can nonetheless have a lot of mixed Capricorn and Aquarius zodiac energy in your chart. Additionally, as the sun changes from one sign to the next each winter, recognizing the underlying Capricorn-Aquarius cusp features can be beneficial to everyone.
Which zodiac is the most intelligent?
Aquarius is the zodiac sign with the highest intelligence. Uranus, the planet of invention, creativity, and expanded consciousness, rules them. As a result, this air sign does more than just process information and spit it back out: they evaluate, comprehend, and expand on it. “They’re creative, unconventional, and frequently ahead of their time,” Kovach adds. “They have a good understanding of how upcoming trends work and may have a picture of the future that others don’t.”
Aquarius and Aquarius
When two Aquarians get together, they quickly become fast friends. Because they have so many characteristics, they have plenty of common interests to bond over. A couple of Aquarians will have plenty to speak about and will bond over their mutual interest in social justicea shared interest that could lead them into activism and other humanitarian initiatives together.
The intimacy factor is where this matchup becomes difficult. It’s simple for two Aquarians to try to hide the elephant in the room (their emotions) by vehemently debating every topic but their own. Bulldozing through the walls in this relationship will take hard work and mutual dedication, but if both Aquarians are prepared to do so, the connection they’ll find on the other side will be one built on firm footing.
Aquarius and Gemini
Gemini and Aquarius are two Air signs with a strong first appeal due to their loose spirits and jovial personalities. Because they’re both interested in a wide range of cultural themes and enjoy analyzing the world around them, these two will have lots to talk about. Wherever this duo travels, there will undoubtedly be chatter.
When the honeymoon period of their relationship wears off, this couple may struggle. Gemini and Aquarius’ ability to endure the relationship’s shift to the real-and-raw will be determined by their desire to be completely honest, even if it hurts.
Aquarius and Libra
Libra and Aquarius, another Air sign, are a lively couple who enjoy being surrounded by hundreds of their “closest friends.” They’re both daring, and their wandering spirits are wonderful complements! This couple is also slow to anger and can keep things lighter in general. A happy and healthy relationship between an Aquarius and a Libra is full of laughing and enjoyment.
When things get a little bumpy, it’s typically due to a lack of closeness. Libra is more impassioned by nature than aloof Aquarius, so these two will have to overcome their predisposition to avoid emotional confrontation. Instead, people must freely and honestly discuss their wishes and requirements. If they do, they’re on their way to a happy life!
What are the three most important indications in my life?
Your Sun sign, Moon sign, and rising sign, also known as ascending sign, are the three most important places in your birth chart. Your Sun sign is the foundation of your personality and who you are as a person. Your Moon sign indicates your emotional side and who you are when you’re alone. Finally, your rising sign is the initial impression others get of you and how you appear on the outside.
Do the signs of the zodiac change every year?
Is that to say that your zodiac sign changes each year? No, it’s more like once every 30 years or so. (Thank G, you’ve got some time to think about it.) “Each sign has 30 degrees, and the advanced sun moves less than a degree per year, so this shift is really slow,” Montfar explains.