It is truly amazing how one observant astronomer has seemingly changed the world! Astronomer Parke Kunkle of the Minnesota Planetarium Society has inadvertently resurrected an old form of the Zodiac. It seems that the Zodiac in question had been stripped down by the Babylonians for none other than mathematical convenience. At one point Mr. Kunkle had stated "Because of this change of tilt, the Earth is really over here in effect and the Sun is in a different constellation than it was 3,000 years ago." in reference to the astronomical differences between the positions of the constellations in relation to Earth now versus where they were when astrological systems were being formed. In a skeptical world, one must learn to understand that belief systems, whether scientifically founded or not, will always have a place in the collective consciousness of humanity. With the assumption that Astrology has validity, let's have a look at the changes in dates:
The system that is most commonly used in the West is called the Tropical Zodiac. It is based on the planetary movements around the sun. These are the dates we've grown to know and love:
Aries - March 21 - April 20
Taurus - April 21 - May 21
Gemini - May 22 - June 21
Cancer - June 22 - July 22
Leo - July 23 - August 21
Virgo - August 22 - September 23
Libra - September 24 - October 23
Scorpio - October 24 - November 22
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22
Capricorn - December 23 - January 20
Aquarius - January 21 - February 19
Pisces - February 20 - March 20
Another system is the Sidereal Zodiac, which was originally based on the galaxies' movement around Earth, and later the precession of the equinoxes was worked in. The dates are a bit different!
Aries - April 14 - May 14
Taurus - May 14 - June 14
Gemini - June 14 - July 14
Cancer - July 14 - August 14
Leo - August 14 - September 13
Virgo - September 13 - October 14
Libra - October 14 - November 13
Scorpio - November 13 - December 14
Sagittarius - December 14 - January 13
Capricorn - January 13 - February 12
Aquarius - February 12 - March 14
Pisces - March 14 - April 14
Finally, the latest version looks like the Sidereal Zodiac again, and it is but is changing based on the sun's path around the ecliptic plane of Earth which goes through a 13th constellation, Ophiuchus (pronounced off-ee-yoo-kus). If one wants to be more scientific, that is, astronomically correct, then this is the system for you:
Aries - April 18 - May 13
Taurus - May 13 - June 21
Gemini - June 21 - July 20
Cancer - July 20 - August 10
Leo - August 10 - September 16
Virgo - September 16 - October 30
Libra - October 30 - November 23
Scorpio - November 23 - November 29
Ophiuchus - November 29 - December 17
Sagittarius - December 17 - January 20
Capricorn - January 20 - February 16
Aquarius - February 16 - March 11
Pisces - March 11- April 18
Many people don't like change, but I'm an adventurer that says: Welcome, Ophiucus! What took you so long? Personally, I am going to high-five anyone that tells me they are born under the sign of Ophiucus: a symbol of architecture, healing, and wisdom.
Gwendolyn Halliday - ~ Freelance Writer ~
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