New Zodiac Sign Dates: Ophiuchus The 13th Sign?
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Your zodiac sign may not actually be your zodiac sign anymore. (UPDATE: Scroll down for Twitter reactions -- and to submit your own!)
Astronomer Parke Kunkle says that due to changes in the Earth's alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.
Kunkle says that as the Earth and Sun slowly move the signs gradually change, as expected.
The change didn't happen overnight either. The 12 signs were designated to different periods of the year almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began, and since then the Earth's position in relation to the sun has changed.
While the sign many people were born under may now be different, it shouldn't affect horoscope readings, according to NBC.
UPDATE: The Associated Press reported Friday evening that Kunkle has since clarified his earlier statements, emphasizing "this is not new news," and "Astronomers have known about this since about 130 B.C."
ABC News reports popular astrologer Susan Miller called the claim of new Zodiac signs "ridiculous," adding "We've known about this for ages."
The confusion seems to be a result of Eastern vs. Western astrology. Most of us are familiar with tropical zodiac (Western), based on the seasons, which has not changed, though sidereal zodiac (Eastern), based on constellations, has different signs including a 13th. Is there a correct system? That's up for debate.
See if your Zodiac sign has changed below based on the new claim. (And find out if your friends' signs have changed here or under the dates below.)
The New Dates:
Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 - May 13
Taurus: May 13 - June 21
Gemini: June 21 - July 20
Cancer: July 20 - Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 - Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 - Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 - Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 - Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 - Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 - Jan. 20
UPDATE: See Twitter reactions below -- and submit your own!
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Anthony Charles Capoccia said on 15 Saturday 2011 pm31 2:10 pm: Fan this if you think it is inappropriate for "professors" to start hoaxes that proliferate historical inaccuracies in order to attack people's religious views (star worshipers, sometimes called Sabaeans, as the Harranian Sabaeans were a prominent group of them, Zoroastrians were another, were one of the first religions, and besides starting scientific observation as we know it, were also one of the "people of the book" afforded religious protection in many holy books including the Quran). The critical points: 1. This is not news - The stars didn't suddenly re-align. Ophiucus has been on the ecliptic for a very long time. Thanks for misleading the public hufpost. 2. It is Inaccurate - The Zodiacs and Constellations are two different things. Both the Tropical and the Sidereal Zodiacs are coordinate systems for locating objects in observational ecliptic longitude, and which were divided into 12 signs of exactly 30 degrees each based on the significance of the number 12 to ancient cultures. There have never been any constellations of exactly 30 degrees in length. The Tropical Zodiac starts at the well-defined point of alignment between the celestial equator and ecliptic known as the Vernal Point, while the Sidereal uses a reference star, typically Spica to mark the start of Libra. Neither have signs that ARE constellations. 3. It is disingenuous - This is a hoax. Let's promote knowledge of history instead of ignorance and confusion about it. Modern astrology bears no relation to ancient astrology which is foundational to both science and |
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The Huffington Post Dean Praetorius First Posted: 01/13/11 01:01 PM ET Updated: 11/29/11 06:18 PM ET