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zodiac

astronomy and astrology Actions Cite verified Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac Give Feedback External Websites Feedback Thank you for your feedback

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External Websites Space.com - Constellations of the Western Zodiac IndiaNetzone - Zodiacs Theoi - Understanding Zodiac Signs Constellations The Planets - Zodiac Constellations Facts Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Zodiac - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) zodiac - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jan 16, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents zodiac See all media Category: History & Society Related Topics: astrology ecliptic triplicity (Show more) See all related content

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zodiac , in astronomy and astrology , 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.

Uncover the history of the zodiac Learn more about the twelve signs of the zodiac. (more) See all videos for this article Discover the myth behind the Chinese zodiac Find out why 2008 and 2020 were both the year of the rat. (more) See all videos for this article

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. 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 .

Britannica Quiz Zodiac Sign Quiz

♈ 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

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn .

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