|
The Twelve Signs of the Modern Zodiac
In astronomy and astrology, the zodiac is an imaginary zone of the
heavens within which lie the paths of the sun, moon and principal
planets. It is bounded by two circles equidistant from the ecliptic,
about eighteen degrees apart; and it is divided into twelve signs,
and marked by twelve constellations. The zodiac developed
over 2000 years ago, and because the position of the earth has
changed, the dates for each sign no longer represent the time when
the sun relates to the constellation, but most astrologers still use
the traditional dates.
Latin
Name |
English
Name |
Symbol |
Order |
Date
of Sign[1] |
Date
of
Constellation[2] |
Quality
|
Triplicity
|
Quadruplicity
|
Ruler |
Aries |
The
Ram |
♈ |
First |
21
Mar. to
20 Apr. (31) |
21
Mar. to
18 Apr. (29) |
Positive |
Fire |
Cardinal |
Mars |
Taurus |
The
Bull |
♉ |
Second |
21
Apr. to
20, 21 May (30, 31) |
19
Apr. to
10 May (22) |
Negative |
Earth |
Fixed |
Venus |
Gemini |
The
Twins |
♊ |
Third |
21,
22 May to
21 June (32, 30) |
11
May to
18 June (39) |
Positive |
Air |
Mutable |
Mercury |
Cancer |
The
Crab |
♋ |
Fourth |
22
June to
22 July (31) |
19
June to
21 July (33) |
Negative |
Water |
Cardinal |
Moon |
Leo |
The
Lion |
♌ |
Fifth |
23
July to
22, 23 Aug. (31, 32) |
22
July to
10 Aug. (20) |
Positive |
Fire |
Fixed |
Sun |
Virgo |
The
Virgin |
♍ |
Sixth |
23,
24 Aug. to
22, 23 Sept. (31) |
11
Aug. to
17 Sept. (38) |
Negative |
Earth |
Mutable |
Mercury |
Libra |
The
Scales |
♎ |
Seventh
|
23,
24 Sept. to
22, 23 Oct. (31) |
18
Sept. to
3 Nov. (46) |
Positive |
Air |
Cardinal |
Venus |
Scorpio |
The
Scorpion |
♏ |
Eighth |
23,
24 Oct. to
22 Nov. (31, 30) |
4
Nov. to
16 Nov. (13) |
Negative |
Water |
Fixed |
Mars |
Sagittarius
|
The
Archer |
♐ |
Ninth |
23
Nov. to
21, 23 Dec. (27) |
17
Nov. to
13 Dec. (31, 29) |
Positive |
Fire |
Mutable |
Jupiter |
Capricorn |
The
Goat |
♑ |
Tenth |
22,
24 Dec. to
20 Jan. (28, 30) |
14
Dec. to
21 Jan. (39) |
Negative |
Earth |
Cardinal |
Saturn |
Aquarius |
The
Water
Carrier |
♒ |
Eleventh |
21
Jan. to
19 Feb. (30) |
22
Jan. to
14 Feb. (24) |
Positive |
Air |
Fixed |
Uranus[3] |
Pisces |
The
Fish
(plural) |
♓ |
Twelfth |
20
Feb. to
20 Mar. (29, 30 in leap year) |
15
Feb. to
21 Mar. (35, 36 in leap year) |
Negative |
Water |
Mutable |
Jupiter |
 |
Notes
1. Dates with the most usual variations.
2. In brackets are the number of days within each period.
3. Formerly Saturn.
Sources
Christie-Murray, D. The Practical Astrologer.
London: New Burlington Books, 1990. |
|
|