The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.
Zodiac, in astronomy and astrology, is a belt around the heavens extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic, the plane of Earth’s orbit, and of the Sun’s apparent annual path. The orbits of the Moon and of the principal planets also lie entirely within the zodiac.
The 12 astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 1/12 (or 30°) of its great circle. These signs no longer correspond to the astronomical constellations in which the Sun actually appears. The constellations are irregular in size and shape, and the Sun regularly passes through one constellation (Ophiuchus) that is not considered a member of the zodiac.
Because most of the constellations through which the ecliptic passes represent animals, the ancient Greeks called its zone zōdiakos kyklos, “circle of animals,” or ta zōdia, “the little animals.” The size and number of zodiacal constellations varied in antiquity and became fixed only with the development of mathematical astronomy.
Constellations of the Zodiac
The list below gives the constellations of the zodiac, with the dates of the Sun’s passage through them in the era when their boundaries were fixed. These dates are still used for the astrological signs, though precession of the equinoxes has shifted the constellations eastward; e.g., on January 1 the direction of the sun is now in Sagittarius instead of Capricornus. The history of the symbols is unknown; they seem to appear first in Greek manuscripts of the late Middle Ages.
- ♈ Aries (Ram): March 21–April 19
- ♉ Taurus (Bull): April 20–May 20
- ♊ Gemini (Twins): May 21–June 21
- ♋ Cancer (Crab): June 22–July 22
- ♌ Leo (Lion): July 23–August 22
- ♍ Virgo (Virgin): August 23–September 22
- ♎ Libra (Balance): September 23–October 23
- ♏ Scorpius (Scorpion): October 24–November 21
- ♐ Sagittarius (Archer): November 22–December 21
- ♑ Capricornus (Goat): December 22–January 19
- ♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 20–February 18
- ♓ Pisces (Fish): February 19–March 20
These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun’s position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.
