What is the Zodiac? The Zodiac is an area of the sky which extends approximately eight degrees north or south of the apparent path of the sun across the celestial sphere during an year.
If you look up a the sky in the night, you can observe many bright stars arranged in specific patterns or groups. These groups or patterns are called Constellations. A Constellation is a group of stars. There are many constellations about which we will look into separately.
The Constellations move in space in fixed directions. You can see up to 12 Constellations at different times during an year. These twelve are called the signs of the Zodiac. The Sun and Moon rise and set in the same directions in which these twelve Constellations are located.
Zodiac
Zodiac is the hypothetical path through which the sun, moon and other planets pass through. Each of these twelve constellations, situated at an angle of 30 degrees are called different signs of Zodiac. The shape of each constellation resembles certain earthly bodies.
Now it is becoming more clear to you isn’t it? You are familiar with Aries, Taurus, Gemini etc. The science of Astrology is based on these twelve signs of the Zodiac or constellations.
Astrological Signs
The twelve signs and position of Sun are as follows.
-
- Aries: Ram – 21st March to 19th April – 0 Degree Longitude
- Taurus: Bull – 20th April to 20th May – 30 Degree Longitude
- Gemini: Twins – 21st May to 21st June – 60 Degree Longitude
- Cancer: Crab – 22nd June to 22nd July – 90 Degree Longitude
- Leo: Lion – 23rd July to 22nd August – 120 Degree Longitude
- Virgo: Virgin – 23rd August to 23rd September – 150 Degree Longitude
- Libra: Balance – 23rd September to 23rd October – 180 Degree Longitude
- Scorpio: Scorpion – 24th October to 21st November – 210 Degree Longitude
- Sagittarius: Archer – 22nd November to 21st December – 240 Degree Longitude
- Capricorn: Goat – 22nd December to 19th January – 270 Degree Longitude
- Aquarius: Water Bearer – 20th January to 18th February – 300 Degree Longitude
- Pisces: Fish – 19th February to 20th March – 330 Degree Longitude
These are the twelve Constellations through which the sun passes through during the year. These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system.
