Wheel of the zodiac: 6th century mosaic pavement incorporating Greek-Byzantine elements from a synagogue, Beit Alpha, Israel

The Earth in its orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to appear on the celestial sphere moving over the ecliptic (red), which is tilted on the equator (blue).

Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. The zodiac is recognized as the first known celestial coordinate system.hi. There are two independently-created zodiacs from which the modern Western world derived its understanding of zodiac systems. Babylonian astrology, inherited by astrology, developed the zodiac of twelve signs familiar in the West. The etymology of the term zodiac is that it comes from the Latin zōdiacus, from the Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "circle of animals", derived from ζῴδιον, the diminutive of ζῷον "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Libra, Virgo and Gemini). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.^{[citation needed]} Look up zodiac in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Beit_Alpha. ... Image File history File links Beit_Alpha. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x1500, 289 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Equinox ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x1500, 289 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Equinox ... The plane of the ecliptic is well seen in this picture from the 1994 lunar prospecting Clementine spacecraft. ... This article is about the star grouping. ... Right ascension (RA; symbol α: Greek letter alpha; celestial longitude) is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. ... Babylonia was an ancient state in Iraq), combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... Hand-coloured version of the anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Circle illustration This article is about the shape and mathematical concept of circle. ...

The zodiac also means a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a means of explaining and predicting events on Earth. This article is about Earths moon. ... It has been suggested that Classical Planets be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the planet. ... (*min temperature refers to cloud tops only) Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 9. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 70 kPa Hydrogen ~86% Helium ~14% Methane 0. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Planets#Etymology. ...

Zodiac in astrology

Astrologers use astronomical observations of the movements of the night sky for divinatory purposes. The zodiac remains in use in modern astrology, though the issue of tropical astrology (used mainly by Western astrologers) and sidereal astrology (used mainly by Indian astrologers) is central. At issue in the debate is whether the signs should be defined in terms of zones derived from nodal points defined by Earth's motion during a tropical year , or whether the signs should be defined in terms of signs roughly aligned with the constellations of the same name (for sidereal astrologers). This matters because of an astronomical phenomenon called the precession of the equinoxes, whereby the position of the stars in sky has changed over time. Therefore, over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations, or their Indian counterparts. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance. Hand-coloured version of the anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ... Tropical Astrology is a type of astrology based on a zodiac whose points of reference are the tropics. ... Sidereal astrology is the system of astrology used by some western and all Jyotish astrologers which bases their interpretation around the use of the sidereal zodiac. ... A year (from Old English gēr) is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ...

Western zodiac

The symbols used in Western astrology to represent the astrological signs

See main article Image File history File links Astro_signs. ... Image File history File links Astro_signs. ... Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. ...

The modern western astrological signs are simplifications of conventional pictorial representations of the signs, used since Hellenistic times. The characters are encoded in unicode at positions U+2648 to U+2653 (hexadecimal numbers).The glyph representation of these characters will depend on the font in which they are displayed. Astrological represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. ... The Hellenistic period (4th - 1st c. ... The Unicode Standard, Version 5. ... In mathematics and computer science, base-16, hexadecimal, or simply hex, is a numeral system with a radix or base of 16 usually written using the symbols 0–9 and A–F or a–f. ... variant glyphs representing the character a (allographs of a) in the Zapfino typeface. ...

Below are the Roman names of the signs of the zodiac (with the ecliptic longitudes of their first points). These figures represent the equivalent J2000.0 ecliptic longitudes for the sidereal zodiac described here in this article. The figures also represent ecliptic longitudes for a tropical zodiac where 0° Aries is understood as the vernal equinox: The term zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. ...

• Aries (0°) (The Ram)
• Taurus (30°) (The Bull)
• Gemini (60°) (The Twins)
• Cancer (90°) (The Crab)
• Leo (120°) (The Lion)
• Virgo (150°) (The Virgin)
• Libra (180°) (The Scale)
• Scorpio (210°) (The Scorpion)
• Sagittarius (240°) (The Centaur)
• Capricorn (270°) (The Sea-goat)
• Aquarius (300°) (The Pitcher)
• Pisces (330°) (The Fish)

Aries the animal Aries is an astrological sign that originated from the constellation Aries, and is the first sign of the zodiac. ... Taurus the bull Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Taurus. ... Gemini the twins Gemini is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Gemini, and is the third sign of the zodiac. ... Cancer astrology sign on the ceiling of the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal. ... Leo the lion Leo is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Leo, and is the fifth sign of the zodiac. ... Virgo the virgin or maiden Virgo is an astrological sign which originated from the constellation Virgo, and is the sixth sign of the zodiac. ... Libra is an astrological sign and is the seventh sign of the zodiac. ... Scorpio the animal Scorpio is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Scorpius, and is the eighth sign of the zodiac. ... Sagittarius the archer Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Sagittarius. ... A Capricorn from a 15th century book Capricorn is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Capricornus, and is the tenth sign of the zodiac. ... Spirit of Aquarius Aquarius is the eleventh astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius. ... Symbol of Pisces Pisces is an Astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Pisces, and is the twelfth sign of the zodiac. ...

Indian zodiac

Traditional Hindu astrology has a sidereal coordinate zodiac system with twelve signs. The names of the Hindu zodiacal signs, or rāśis, are similar to Graeco-Babylonian signs: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

1. meṣa "ram" (Aries)
2. vṛṣabha "bull" (Taurus)
3. mithuna "a pair" (Gemini)
4. karka "crab" (Cancer)
5. siṃha "lion" (Leo)
6. kanyā "maiden" (Virgo)
7. tula, from tulā "balance" (Libra)
8. vrushchik "scorpion" (Scorpius), also kaurpi, loaned from the Greek
9. kārmuka, cāpa, dhanus "bow, arc", cāpin "armed with a bow" (Sagittarius)
10. eṇa, mṛga "antelope", also makara "sea-monster" (Capricornus)
11. kumbha "pitcher, water-pot" (Aquarius)
12. matsya "fish", also jhaṣa, timi, mīna after specific kinds of fish (Pisces)

This "Hindu zodiac" (adhvan, rāśi) thus has similarities to Greek zodiac. The Graeco-Babylonian system of twelve signs overlays the native Hindu system of nine grahas or planets. ...

Chinese and other zodiacs

Chinese astrology also has a system of twelve signs sometimes also referred to as "zodiac". This does not necessarily imply a common origin, since the number of twelve naturally suggests itself from the number of synodic months in a year; in other words, the extent of a zodiacal sign corresponds to the path covered by the Sun between two new moons. Like its Western counterpart, the Chinese zodiac features animals. However, the Chinese zodiac associates each animal with both one month and one solar year. Thus the signs repeat themselves every twelve year cycle. The animals of the Chinese Zodiac are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (or hare), dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar). For a list of how these animals map to the months and years see Chinese astrology. There is also a Chinese lunar zodiac comprised of twenty-eight lunar "mansions", each corresponding to a Chinese constellation. Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. ... In Egyptian mythology, Month is an alternate spelling for Menthu. ... Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. ... Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. ... Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. ... Chinese constellations are different from the western constellations, due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy. ...

Beyond the traditional Chinese system, in New Age or Occultist movements there are sometimes claims of even other systems such as a "Celtic zodiac"^[1][2] based on the lunisolar Celtic calendar, or a "Galactic zodiac".^[3] Other evidence suggests Mayan, Incan and Aztec cultures of the Western hemisphere also noted celestial events along the zodiac. The Maya for example, certainly possessed a zodiac of some kind. The Mayan name for the constellation Scorpio was also 'scorpion', while the name of the constellation Gemini was 'peccary'. There is evidence for other constellations being named after various beasts, but it remains unclear. ^[4] bn New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ... The term Celtic calendar is used to refer to a variety of calendars used by Celtic-speaking peoples at different times in history. ...

Zodiac in astronomy

In astronomy the zodiacal constellations are a convenient way of marking the ecliptic (the sun's path across the sky). The zodiac is also a way for astronomers to mark the path of the moon and planets , as their movements also remain within these constellations. Apart from this role, the zodiacal constellations have no extra significance to astronomers than any other constellation. The plane of the ecliptic is well seen in this picture from the 1994 lunar prospecting Clementine spacecraft. ... This article is about Earths moon. ... This article is about the astronomical term. ...

Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was essentially a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an 'equivalent' to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac. Ophiuchus (IPA: ), formerly referred to as Serpentarius (IPA: ), the former originating in the Greek language and the latter in the Latin language, both meaning serpent-holder, is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ...

Table of constellations vs. zodiac signs

European zodiac signs, 16th century, medieval woodcuts

This table provides a comparison between the dates the Sun enters and passes away from the zodiac signs and constellations as defined by various specifications. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (885x696, 171 KB)Zodiac signs, 16th century , medieval woodcuts This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (885x696, 171 KB)Zodiac signs, 16th century , medieval woodcuts This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Four horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht Dürer Ukiyo-e woodcut, Ishiyama Moon by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1889) Woodcut is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface...

Note the ecliptic passes through a thirteenth constellation (or more, depending upon the opinions of astronomers of any given century), Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer), as already recognized in Ptolemy's Almagest, although there is no astrological sign corresponding to Ophiuchus. Notably, Ophiuchus occupies an honored place along the zodiac: amidst the cluster of dust and clouds looking toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy; although not part of the constellation, Barnard's Star is located within Ophiuchus (this is one of the nearest stars to the Solar System, and it has the largest known proper motion of any star relative to the Sun). Ophiuchus (IPA: ), formerly referred to as Serpentarius (IPA: ), the former originating in the Greek language and the latter in the Latin language, both meaning serpent-holder, is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ... This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ... Almagest is the Latin form of the Arabic name (al-kitabu-l-mijisti, i. ... Barnards Star is a very low-mass star in the constellation Ophiuchus which was discovered by the astronomer E. E. Barnard in 1916. ... Ophiuchus (IPA: ), formerly referred to as Serpentarius (IPA: ), the former originating in the Greek language and the latter in the Latin language, both meaning serpent-holder, is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ... This list of the nearest stars to Earth is ordered by increasing distance out to a maximum of 5 parsecs (16. ... This article is about the Solar System. ... Sol redirects here. ...

The following table compares the Gregorian dates on which the sun enters For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see liturgical year. ...

• a sign in the Ptolemaic tropical zodiac;
• a sign in the Hindu sidereal system; note that the sidereal system of Cyril Fagan, introduced in 1944, is again different, with Aries beginning on 30 April.
• the astronomical constellation of the same name as the sign, with constellation boundaries as defined in 1930 by the International Astronomical Union.

The dates can vary by as much as 2 days from year to year, depending on the cycle of leap years. Tropical Astrology is a type of astrology based on a zodiac whose points of reference are the tropics. ... Jyotisha (, in Hindi and English usage Jyotish; sometimes called Hindu astrology, Indian astrology, and/or Vedic astrology) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga, and regarded as one of the oldest schools of ancient astrology to have had an independent origin, affecting all other... Sidereal astrology is the system of astrology used by some western and all Jyotish astrologers which bases their interpretation around the use of the sidereal zodiac. ... Cyril Fagan, ( born 12:25 PM GMT, May 22, 1896, in Dublin, Ireland - died at 5:00 AM on January 5, 1970 in Tucson, AZ.), was an Irish astrologer who investigated the western astrological use of sidereal astrology and reintroduced it to the West. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... IAU redirects here. ...

Sign	Meaning, symbol	Dates of Sun's presence			Solar stay in constellation	Brightest Star in constellation
		Tropical astrological zodiac[5]	sidereal (Jyotisha) astrological zodiac	Astronomical observations[6]
Aries	"ram"	March 21 – April 20[7]	April 14 – May 14	Aries, April 19 – May 14	25 days	Alpha Arietis
Taurus	"bull"	April 21 – May 21	May 15 – June 14	Taurus, May 14 – June 21	38 days	Aldebaran
Gemini	"twins"	May 22 – June 23	June 15 – July 16	Gemini, June 21 – July 21	30 days	Pollux
Cancer	"crab"	June 23 – July 22	July 17 – August 16	Cancer, July 21 – August 11	21 days	Beta Cancri
Leo	"lion"	July 23 – August 23	August 17 – September 16	Leo, August 11 – September 17	37 days	Regulus
Virgo	"virgin"	August 24 – September 22	September 17 – October 17	Virgo, September 17 – October 31	44 days	Spica
Libra	"scale" or "balance"	September 23 – October 23	October 18 – November 16	Libra, October 31 – November 23	23 days	Beta Librae
Scorpio	"scorpion"	October 24 – November 22	November 17 – December 15	Scorpius, November 23 – November 30	7 days	Antares
Ophiuchus not recognized in astrology	"the serpent bearer"	n/a	n/a	Ophiuchus, November 30 – December 18	18 days	Alpha Ophiuchi
Sagittarius	"centaur"	November 23 – December 21	December 16 – January 14	Sagittarius, December 18 – January 19	32 days	Epsilon Sagittarii
Capricorn	"horned goat"	December 22 – January 19	January 15 – February 12	Capricornus, January 19 – February 16	28 days	Delta Capricorni
Aquarius	"water bearer"	January 20 – February 18	February 13 – March 14	Aquarius, February 16 – March 12	24 days	Beta Aquarii
Pisces	"fish"	February 19 – March 20	March 15 – April 13	Pisces, March 12 – April 19	38 days	Eta Piscium

Sidereal astrology is the practice by some western and all Indian astrologers of basing their study of the sky on the actual position of the planets in relation to the starry background. ... Jyotisha (, in Hindi and English usage Jyotish; sometimes called Hindu astrology, Indian astrology, and/or Vedic astrology) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga, and regarded as one of the oldest schools of ancient astrology to have had an independent origin, affecting all other... Aries the animal Aries is an astrological sign that originated from the constellation Aries, and is the first sign of the zodiac. ... Binomial name Ovis aries Linnaeus, 1758 A sheep is any of several woolly ruminant quadrupeds, but most commonly the Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), which probably descends from the wild moufflon of south-central and south-west Asia. ... Image File history File links Aries. ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Aries (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Alpha Arietis (α Ari / α Arietis) is the brightest star in the constellation Aries. ... Taurus the bull Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Taurus. ... The worship of the Sacred Bull throughout the ancient world is most familiar in the episode of the idol of the Golden Calf made by Aaron and worshipped by the Hebrews in the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus). ... Image File history File links Taurus. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Taurus (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Aldebaran from the Arabic (الدبران al-dabarān) meaning the follower, (α Tau / α Tauri / Alpha Tauri) is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Gemini the twins Gemini is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Gemini, and is the third sign of the zodiac. ... For other uses, see Twin (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Gemini. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Gemini (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the constellations of the zodiac known as the twins. It is part of the winter sky, lying between Taurus to the west and the dim Cancer to the east, with Auriga and the near-invisible Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Pollux (β Gem / β Geminorum / Beta Geminorum) is one of the brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Cancer astrology sign on the ceiling of the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal. ... For other uses, see Crab (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Cancer. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Cancer (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the thirteen constellations of the zodiac. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Altarf, also known as al-Tarf (Arabic for the tip) and as ß-Cancri, is a star in the constellation Cancer. ... Leo the lion Leo is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Leo, and is the fifth sign of the zodiac. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Leo. ... is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... {| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leo (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Regulus (α Leo / α Leonis / Alpha Leonis) is the brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Virgo the virgin or maiden Virgo is an astrological sign which originated from the constellation Virgo, and is the sixth sign of the zodiac. ... In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ... Image File history File links Virgo. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Virgo (pronounced , Latin: , symbol , ) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Spica (α Vir / α Virginis / Alpha Virginis) is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... Libra is an astrological sign and is the seventh sign of the zodiac. ... Digital kitchen scales. ... Digital kitchen scales. ... Image File history File links Libra. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Libra (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , Unicode ) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Beta Librae (β Lib / β Librae) is the brightest star in the constellation Libra. ... Scorpio the animal Scorpio is an astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Scorpius, and is the eighth sign of the zodiac. ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ... Image File history File links Scorpio. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the constellation. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ophiuchus (IPA: ), formerly referred to as Serpentarius (IPA: ), the former originating in the Greek language and the latter in the Latin language, both meaning serpent-holder, is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ... Serpent can be any of the following: The reptile commonly called snake. ... The characters N/A (sometimes n/a) are an abbreviation that is mainly used in information tables. ... Ophiuchus (IPA: ), formerly referred to as Serpentarius (IPA: ), the former originating in the Greek language and the latter in the Latin language, both meaning serpent-holder, is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ras Alhague is the α star in the constellation of Ophiuchus Ras Alhague (Bayer designation Alpha Ophiuchus) is the brightest star in the constellation Ophiuchus. ... Sagittarius the archer Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Sagittarius. ... This article is about the mythological creatures. ... Image File history File links Sagittarius. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Sagittarius. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Epsilon Sagittarii (ε Sgr / ε Sagittarii) is a binary star in the constellation Sagittarius. ... Capricornus ( or , Unicode: ♑), a name meaning Horned Goat or That which has horns like a goats in Latin, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... This article is about the domestic species. ... Image File history File links Capricorn. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Capricornus ( or , Unicode: ♑), a name meaning Horned Goat or That which has horns like a goats in Latin, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Scheddi is the designation of the star delta Capricorni, in the constellation Capricorn. ... Spirit of Aquarius Aquarius is the eleventh astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Image File history File links Aquarius. ... is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Aquarius (IPA: , Latin: ) is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, situated between Capricornus and Pisces. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Beta Aquarii (β Aqr / β Aquarii) is a star in the constellation Aquarius. ... Symbol of Pisces Pisces is an Astrological sign, which originated from the constellation Pisces, and is the twelfth sign of the zodiac. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Pisces. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 74th day of the year (75th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Pisces. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The constellation Pisces, is named after fish (plural). ...

Precession of the equinoxes

Main article: Precession of the equinoxes

The signs of the zodiac do not necessarily coincide with the actual constellations for which they are named. Because of the division of the zodiac into 12 signs of 30° each; due to various specifications for the boundaries of the constellations; and especially due to the precession of the equinoxes for the tropical system of coordinates, the constellations should not be confused with zodiac signs. As described above, due to precession the tropical signs have moved away from their corresponding constellations, so that today, the beginning of the tropical sign of Aries (defined as the position of the Sun on the vernal equinox) lies somewhere within the constellation Pisces. Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ... This article is about the star grouping. ... Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ...

It is not entirely clear how ancient astronomers responded to this phenomenon of precession once they discovered it. Today, some read Ptolemy as dropping the concept of a fixed celestial sphere and adopting what is referred to as a tropical coordinate system instead: in other words, one fixed to the cycle of the Earth's seasonal cycle rather than its orbital cycle. Such a view is consistent with the reading of Ptolemy as a geocentrist. The geo-centrist view understands the motion of celestial objects in strict relation to the Earth as a fixed frame of reference. This view understands the celestial sphere as rotating around the Earth like the spheres of the other planets and the moon: only more slowly. The Earth is the center of everything and is fixed in the same frame of reference as the Universe. The stars precess in relation to the Earth not the other way around. Modern astronomers typically read such a view in Ptolemy who writes: "the sphere of the fixed stars also performs a motion of its own in the opposite direction to the revolution of the universe, that is [the motion of] the great circle through both poles, that of the equator and that of the ecliptic." By "revolution of the universe", Ptolemy refers to the daily cycle that heliocentrists understand as the rotation of the Earth. However, one also finds evidence in Ptolemy's The Almagest that he expresses a view of a fixed celestial sphere; or at least that he understands the difference between the relative motions of each. After cataloguing over 1,000 stars he describes a method for constructing a model of the stars:"Since it is not reasonable to mark the solstitial and equinoctial points on the actual zodiac of the globe (for the stars depicted [on the globe] do not retain a constant distance with respect to these points), we need to take some fixed starting-point in the delineated fixed stars." (emphasis added; brackets are translator's insertions). So Ptolemy's response to the issue of precession is that the zodiac moves through the equinox and also he makes it clear he understands that the equinox moves through the zodiac. This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ... The geocentric model (in Greek: geo = earth and centron = centre) of the universe is a paradigm which places the Earth at its center. ... The celestial sphere is divided by the celestial equator. ... In astronomy, heliocentrism is the theory that the Sun is at the center of the Universe and/or the Solar System. ... Almagest is the Arabic name of an astronomical/astrological treatise proposing the complex motions of the stars and planetary paths, originally written in Greek as Hè Megalè Syntaxis by Ptolemy of Alexandria, Egypt, sometime around the 2nd century, and accepted for over a thousand years in Arabic and European societies...

The zodiacal signs remain in use as the basis of an ecliptic coordinate system, though modern astronomers tend to use an equatorial coordinate systems since Early Modern times. One can see the use of the sidereal coordinate system as late as 1,000 AD from Hermannus Contractus in his de mensura astrolabii liber who gives the locations of stars in stereographic projection for the construction of an astrolabe, There he gives the zodiac coordinate of Antares as 14. Scorpius, equaling a J2000.0 ecliptic longitude of 224° (the 14th degree from the beginning of Scorpius at 210°). The ecliptic coordinate system is a celestial coordinate system that uses the ecliptic for its fundamental plane. ... The equatorial coordinate system is probably the most widely used celestial coordinate system, whose equatorial coordinates are: declination () right ascension () -also RA-, or hour angle () -also HA- It is the most closely related to the geographic coordinate system, because they use the same fundamental plane, and the same poles. ... The early modern period is a term used by historians to refer to the period in Western Europe and its first colonies, between the Middle Ages and modern society. ... Hermannus Contractus (also called Hermannus Augiensis, Hermann of Reichenau) (1013 July 18 – 1054 September 24) was an 11th century scholar, composer, and music theorist. ... Stereographic projection of a circle of radius R onto the x axis. ... A 16th century astrolabe. ...

The zodiacal symbols are Early Modern simplifications of conventional pictorial representations of the signs, attested since Hellenistic times. The symbols are encoded in Unicode at positions U+2648 to U+2653. The early modern period is a term used by historians to refer to the period in Western Europe and its first colonies, between the Middle Ages and modern society. ... The Unicode Standard, Version 5. ...

Zodiac celestial coordinate systems

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2006)

For any spherical celestial coordinate system one needs to define an equatorial plane and designate an origin for longitude. From these definitions longitudinal meridians perpendicular to the equatorial plane meet at the north and south poles of the celestial sphere and one can precisely specify a unique position on the sphere. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses, see Sphere (disambiguation). ... In astronomy, a celestial coordinate system is a coordinate system for mapping positions in the sky. ... In astronomy and navigation, the celestial sphere is an imaginary rotating sphere of gigantic radius, concentric with the Earth. ... Longitude is the east-west geographic coordinate measurement most commonly utilized in cartography and global navigation. ... On the earth, a meridian is a north-south line between the North Pole and the South Pole. ... Fig. ...

First, the zodiac coordinate system designates the ecliptic as the equatorial plane. One should not confuse the zodiac's equatorial plane with the Earth's equator which is so named because it serves as the equatorial plane for our terrestrial coordinate system. Instead the ecliptic is aligned with the Earth's orbital plane with the Sun. The Earth tilts at an angle of approximately 23° with respect to the orbital plane. This tilt is partly due to the Earth's precession as it gyrates and rotates on its axis. It contributes to the divergence between a tropical year and a sidereal year and thus contributes to the precession of the equinoxes which marks the difference between tropical and sidereal celestial coordinate systems. The plane of the ecliptic is well seen in this picture from the 1994 lunar prospecting Clementine spacecraft. ... Precession redirects here. ... Gyration is a company that produces an optical mouse known also as the Gyration. ... A tropical year is the length of time that the Sun, as viewed from the Earth, takes to return to the same position along the ecliptic (its path among the stars on the celestial sphere). ... The sidereal year is the time for the Sun to return to the same position in respect to the stars of the celestial sphere. ... Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ...

Second, a system of coordinates must normally specify an origin (0° point) for longitude. However, the zodiac system names twelve equal regions (called signs) and technically any sign can serve as the beginning or the end of the sphere's precession. However, the system further divides each sign into thirty degree units. Since the constellations along the ecliptic varied in size, defining 12 equal signs of 30° each did require an arbitrary assignment of boundaries roughly corresponding to the ecliptic constellations. This article is about the star grouping. ...

It is believed many of the classical astronomers specified zodiac signs using two bright stars near the ecliptic and opposite each other to serve as equatorial nodes or poles (not longitudinal poles): Aldebaran and Antares in the constellations Taurus and Scorpius respectively. These stars served rather well because not only were they on opposites sides of the ecliptic, but they also fell very near the center of their constellations and were therefore designated as Taurus 15 and Scorpius 15, meaning the middle 15° points within those signs. From these two stars then the remaining equatorial boundaries of the 12 signs of the zodiac follow (see Powell 2004). Aldebaran from the Arabic (الدبران al-dabarān) meaning the follower, (α Tau / α Tauri / Alpha Tauri) is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Taurus (IPA: , Latin: , symbol , ) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... This article is about the constellation. ...

Sidereal versus tropical

The celestial coordinate system described above is what astronomers call a sidereal system of coordinates. In other words it defines the coordinates in relation to what ancient astronomers called the fixed stars (as opposed to the planets other than Earth which were called wandering stars). One could also call this a celestially centered system of coordinates. In time the ancient astronomers such as Hipparchus discovered these fixed stars were not fixed relative to the Earth's tropical year. Due, in part, to the precession of the Earth discussed above, the Earth completed its orbit after it has already completed the tropical cycle: for example: for the cycle of the Sun starting directly over the Tropic of Cancer then to the Tropic of Capricorn and return to the Tropic of Cancer again. Or as another example consider the motion of the Sun from one vernal equinox to the next; the Earth would complete such a cycle shortly before it completed an entire orbit around the Sun. (24 minutes and 20 seconds before). The difference is very subtle, but as astronomers found archival records to compare their sightings with sightings of previous astronomers, the discrepancy thus became apparent. Some estimates of the rate of precession suggest that over a period of 27,000 tropical years, the Earth will have orbited the Sun only 26,999 times. That Hipparchus in the second century BC could recognize and document such a subtle process which is now known as the precession of the equinoxes could be considered remarkable. A fixed star is a celestial object that does not seem to move (in comparison to the other stars of the night sky). ... This article is about the astronomical term. ... For the Athenian tyrant, see Hipparchus (son of Pisistratus). ... A year (from Old English gēr) is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Precession redirects here. ... For the novel by Henry Miller, see Tropic of Cancer (novel). ... World map showing the Tropic of Capricorn For the novel by Henry Miller, see Tropic of Capricorn (novel). ... Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ...

Some modern astronomers began to mark the stars according to a tropical zodiac (or other tropical coordinate systems such as the equatorial coordinate system). This tropical zodiac system of coordinates designates the origin of the longitude of the celestial sphere as the first point in Aries. The term may be derived from the constellation of Aries, but this point instead marks the position of the Sun at the time of the vernal equinox for a specified epoch. Among other things, this epoch specifies the first point in Aries and establishes a unique fixed reference point for the tropical system of coordinates. The use of the phrase "first point in Aries" causes some confusion when considering sidereal versus tropical systems of coordinates. The first point in Aries in the sidereal system of coordinates, would be the first star in the Aries sign or perhaps the boundary of that sign. Whereas in tropical coordinates, the vernal equinox defines this point. During the time of Ptolemy's observations and cataloguing of stars the sidereal and tropical longitudinal origins differed by a magnitude of perhaps less than 2°. The close convergence of these two systems of coordinates — combined with the varied interpretations of the phrase "first point in Aries" — makes it difficult to discern Ptolemy's longitudinal origin (see Peters and Knobel 1915). The equatorial coordinate system is probably the most widely used celestial coordinate system, whose equatorial coordinates are: declination () right ascension () -also RA-, or hour angle () -also HA- It is the most closely related to the geographic coordinate system, because they use the same fundamental plane, and the same poles. ... In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... The First Point of Aries, also called the vernal equinox point, is one of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic. ... This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ...

More recently, in 2000 AD for example, the first point in Aries and the boundary of the sign of Aries — based on the specification of zodiac signs above — diverged by about 25°. In terms of the tropical system, this places the first point in Aries (in other words, the vernal equinox) in the Pisces constellation, near the projection of the NGC 7787 spiral galaxy. Other specifications of zodiac signs (whether sidereal or tropical) choosing different fixed points (in the celestial sphere for sidereal or in relation to Earth's seasonal cycle for tropical) would result in a different divergence either greater than or less than 25°. For example Cyril Fagan's sidereal zodiac is offset from the J2000.0 tropical zodiac by greater than 39° (as of 1977). This difference between the position of fixed stars in the tropical and sidereal coordinate systems is called the Ayanamsa. Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ... For other uses, see Pisces. ... The New General Catalogue (NGC) is the most well-known catalogue of deep sky objects in amateur astronomy. ... Cyril Fagan, ( born 12:25 PM GMT, May 22, 1896, in Dublin, Ireland - died at 5:00 AM on January 5, 1970 in Tucson, AZ.), was an Irish astrologer who investigated the western astrological use of sidereal astrology and reintroduced it to the West. ... Ayanamsa is the Sanskrit term for the longitudinal difference between the tropical or Sayana and sidereal or Nirayana zodiacs. ...

=== The equinox moving through the sidereal signs === this was edited by Matt Thomas Maybury, Connecticut Below are several images depicting how the vernal equinox precesses through the celestial sphere from 1500 BC through AD 2500 (projected). The brightest star you see in the images is the Sun. For a tropical zodiac the first point in Aries and consequently the beginning of the tropical sign of Aries is defined as the position of the Sun's center at the moment of the astronomical vernal equinox. For comparison the constellations are shown with stick labeled figures. Also the planets are labeled that lie near the vernal equinox for that year. Finally, the stars that lie near the outer boundaries of the sidereal signs of Aries (HIP16641) and Pisces (14 Piscium/HIP116323) as well as the dividing point between the two (HIP7243) are marked to provide some sense of where the first point in Aries (the start of the sign of Aries in terms of a tropical zodiac) lies in relation to the sidereal sign of Aries. Click on any image to see a larger view. Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ...

Comparison to modern systems

Though perhaps as old as 5,000 years, the zodiac coordinate system boasts advantages over its more common modern counterparts. Since the coordinate system is celestially centered, it is insulated from the many eccentricities of Earth's motion: including its rotation, intricacies of Earth time, precession, nutation and its elliptical and perturbed orbit around our Sun. To use the zodiac coordinate system all one has to know is where to find one of the nodal constellations that include the fixed reference points for the system: Taurus and Scorpio. Since those constellations are located on opposite sides of the ecliptic along the zodiac, one should always be visible in the night sky. Also. these constellations are both located within the prominent band of cloud and dust of the Milky Way. From these constellations astronomers can orient themselves for locating any point in the coordinate system.

The modern, commonly used tropical systems require an observer to know the current mean sidereal time, the observer's terrestrial longitude and latitude, and the epoch the observer wishes to utilize, and to account for other peculiarities of Earth's motion. Of course, modern astronomical computers handle most of the tasks for observers, but it involves a large effort by many different astronomers behind the scenes.

In addition, much of the motion of the stars in modern tropical coordinate systems can be attributed wholly to these peculiarities of Earth's motion. Astronomers make the distinction between the proper motion of a star (typically relatively subtle), from the other motion that arises totally from the designation of a tropical rather than sidereal coordinate system. One example where this exhibits itself is in the constellation boundaries drawn up by the IAU. The neat constellation boundaries drawn in 1930 exhibit increasingly distorted boundary lines over time. This may seem like something of little consequence, but why bother drawing neat boundaries around constellations if they inherently become erratic in the dominant coordinate system in use then and now.

Finally, since the zodiac system uses the ecliptic rather than the terrestrial equator for its equatorial plane it is not susceptible to the drifting of stars across the celestial equator as in the commonly used equatorial coordinate system (right ascension, declination). In The Almagest Ptolemy criticizes Hipparchus’ use of an equatorial plane in some of Hipparchus’ variously specified coordinate systems for this very reason (Ptolemy 1998). For the Athenian tyrant, see Hipparchus (son of Pisistratus). ...

These advantages make the zodiac coordinate system a very efficient system of coordinates in terms of requiring very little human-hours of labor to use and maintain: issues particularly important to early astronomers, typically working in often in isolation from one another.

The key disadvantage of a zodiac system of coordinates will manifest as a problem, if the nodal stars that serve as its fixed reference points for the system exhibit significant proper motion so that within the system of coordinates every other star appears to move dramatically in unison. In other words, selecting a star that has eccentiricities compared to the other stars undermines the usefulness of the system of coordinates. For example the inadvertent selection of an asteroid or an entire galaxy outside our Milky Way would lead to this condition. The reason for this is that celestial objects outside our galaxy revolve around our galaxy in a period of about 220 million years, at least in terms of a frame of reference affixed to our Sun and its neighboring stars. The only other sidereal coordinate system in common use today (that shares many of the zodiac’s advantages) is the galactic coordinate system. In galactic coordinates, the plane of the Milky Way and its own axial center serve as the fixed referents. These are fairly logical reference points for a coordinate system, though of course they cannot be located with the naked eye. The anisotropy of the star density in the night sky makes the galactic coordinate system very useful for coordinating surveys, both those which require high densities of stars (at low galactic latitudes) and those which require a low density of stars (at high galactic latitudes) Many galaxies, including the Milky...

Another disadvantage relates to the apparatus required for orienting one to the coordinate system. Using geocentric coordinates astronomers can easily calibrate their instruments to the fixed reference point. As long as astronomers can obtain an accurate compass reading, they can orient themselves to a geocentric coordinate system (such as ecliptic or equatorial coordinates). Using zodiac coordinates requires an astronomer to locate the correct star, whether Antares or Aldebaran, and the correct constellation- Scorpio or Taurus respectively- and make an accurate reading of the position of that star and accurately orient that star to the ecliptic. This may take more skill than a mere compass reading: especially for amateur astronomers.

Mnemonics for the zodiac

A traditional mnemonic:^[8] For other uses, see Mnemonic (disambiguation). ...

The Ram, the Bull, the Heavenly Twins,

And next the Crab, the Lion shines,

The Virgin and the Scales.

The Scorpion, Archer, and the Goat,

The Man who holds the Watering Pot,

And Fish with glittering scales.

A less poetic, but succinct and perhaps more memorable, mnemonic is the following:^[9]

The Ramble Twins Crab Liverish;

Scaly Scorpions Are Good Water Fish.

(Ram-Ble = Ram, Bull; Twins = Twins; Crab = Crab; Li-Ver(ish) = Lion, Virgin; Scaly = Scale; Scorpion = Scorpio; Are = Archer; Good = Goat; Water = Water Bearer; Fish = Fish)

See also

Astrology Portal

• History of astronomy
• History of astrology
• Astrological sign
• Chinese Zodiac
• Elements of the zodiac
• Babylonian influence on Greek astronomy
• Astronomical symbols
• Astrology and alchemy
• Esoteric cosmology
• Zodiacal constellation
• Zodiacal light
• Zodiacal dust
• Cusp (astrology)
• Sefer Raziel HaMalakh
• Circle of stars

Image File history File links Astrology_Project. ... Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not completely disentangled from it until a... The history of astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures. ... Astrological represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. ... Chinese astrology (占星術 pinyin: zhan4 xing1 shu4; 星學 pinyin: xing1 xue2; 七政四餘 pinyin: qi1 zheng4 si4 yu2; and 果老星宗 pinyin: guo3 lao3 xing1 zong1) is related to the Chinese calendar, particularly its 12-year cycle of animals (aka Chinese Zodiac), and the fortune-telling aspects according to movement of heavenly... Traditionally in astrology, the elements of the Zodiac are: Categories: | | ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Chinese Celestial symbols on an antique bronze mirror Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. ... Alchemy in the Western World and other locations where it was widely practiced was (and in many cases still is) closely allied and intertwined with traditional Babylonian-Greek style astrology; in numerous ways they were built to complement each other in the search for hidden knowledge. ... Esoteric cosmology is cosmology that is an intrinsic part of an esoteric or occult system of thought. ... The astrological zodiacal constellations are the twelve constellations that constitute the astrological zodiac. ... The zodiacal light in the eastern sky before the beginning of morning twilight. ... Zodiacal dust forms a pancake shaped cloud in the Solar System collectively known as the zodiacal cloud. ... In astrology, a cusp (from the Latin for spear or point) is the imaginary line that separates a sign in the zodiac or a house in the horoscope. ... Sefer Raziel HaMalakh, (Hebrew, translates as Book of Raziel the Angel”), is a Jewish religious text (more properly a grimoire), primarily written in Hebrew and Aramaic. ... The Disney Channel Circle of Stars, named after their first single The Circle of Life is a collection of the most popular teens on Disney Channel. ...

Notes

IAU redirects here. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Zodiac

• Ptolemy, Claudius (1998), written at Princeton, NJ, The Almagest, Princeton University Press, ISBN 069100260 Translated and annotated by G.J. Toomer ; with a foreword by Owen Gingerich.
• Photos of the Zodiac Constellations
• The Zodiacs
• Powell, Robert (2004). The Definition of the Babylonian Zodiac PhD thesis, entitled "The Definition of the Babylonian Zodiac and the Influence of Babylonian Astronomy on the Subsequent Defining of the Zodiac".
• Tropical v Sidereal debate First published in The Traditional Astrologer magazine, (Ascella), Issue 14, May 1997, pp.23-27
• Peters, Christian Heinrich Friedrich and Edward Ball Knobel. Ptolemy's Catalogue of Stars: a revision of the Almagest. (1915). Publishers, Carnegie Institution of Washington.

• 12 Sun Signs Explained--Complete Guide to Explaining the Zodiac Signs
• Coordinates for the Constellations (provides a comparison between tropical and sidereal systems)
• 2007 Astrology Forecast
• Online Lunar Calendar - Current position of Moon in the Zodiac, ...

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ... Owen Gingerich Dr. Owen Jay Gingerich (1930-) was Research Professor of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Harvard University and a senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. ...

Chart(s)

v • d • e Astronomy | Constellations of the Zodiac | Astrology
Aries	Taurus	Gemini	Cancer	Leo	Virgo	Libra	Scorpio	Sagittarius	Capricorn	Aquarius	Pisces