The Zodiac

[General] [Aries] [Taurus] [Gemini] [Cancer]
[Leo] [Virgo] [Libra] [Scorpius] [Sagittarius] [Aquarius] [Pisces]

General
There are 12 different constellations in the zodiac. The zodiac it the band of constellations in which the sun, moon, and planets cross across. Here, each one will be listed, explained, given a coordinate, and have an image. The first line will consist of the following: Constellation, what it means, dates that sun is in constellation, abbreviation, coordinates, and symbol.
Note: The dates of the constellations have been corrected from what you see in the horoscope in the newspaper. This shift slowly took place because of precession. To find your actual astrological sign, use the dates here.

Aries - The Ram - April 18-May 14 - Ari - 2h 30m RA +23° dec -
This constellation show the ram with the golden fleece. Jason and the Argonauts stole this fleece in a famous Greek myth.

Taurus - The Bull - May 14-June 21 - Tau - 4h 30m RA +18° dec -
Zeus disguised himself as this bull and abducted Princess Europa of Phoenicia in another Greek myth.

Gemini - The Twins - June 21-July 20 - Gem - 7h RA +22° dec -
This constellation shows the two twins mythical Castor and Pollux. The two brightest stars in this constellation are named after them.

Cancer - The Crab - July 20-Aug 10 - Cnc - 8h 40m RA +20° dec -
Cancer is a crab that was crushed by Hercules as he was battling the hydra. It was sent by Juno to attack Hercules, but did not succeed.

Leo - The Lion - Aug 10-Sept 16 - Leo - 10h 30m RA +15° dec -
Leo the lion was killed by Hercules, thus completing his first labor in Greek myths.

Virgo - The - Sept 16-Oct 31 - Vir - 13h RA -5° dec -
Virgo is the largest constellation of the zodiac. She has been associated with many names, such as Dike- the goddess of justice, or Demeter- the corn goddess.

Libra - The Scales - Oct 31-Nov 23 - Lib - 15h 10m RA -22° dec -
Libra depicts the scales held by Virgo, depicting justice. They were once part of the constellation Scorpius, depicting his claws.

Scorpius - The Scorpion - Nov 23-Dec 18 - Sco -16h 30m RA -30° dec -
Scorpius is the scorpion that killed Orion with it's sting. Scorpius rises in the sky as Orion sets.

Sagittarius - The Archer - Dec18-Jan 19 - Sgr - 19h RA -25° dec -
This constellation shows Crotus aiming his bow and arrow at Scorpius. Crotus invented the bow and arrow in Greek mythology.

Capricornus - The Sea Goat - Jan 19-Feb 16 - Cap - 21h RA -20° dec -
Capricornus has the body of a goat but the tail of a fish. The goat may symbolize the suns climb out from it's lowest point which is in this constellation, while the fish may symbolize the seasonal rains.

Aquarius - The Water Bearer - Feb 16-March 11 - Aqr - 23h RA -10° dec -
Aquarius is depicted as a boy pouring water out of a bucket into the mouth of Piscis Austrinus. This also represented the rainy season.

Pisces - The Fishes - March 11-April 18 - Psc - 0h 30m RA +10° dec -
Pisces the fish depict Venus and Cupid disguising themselves as they run away from the monster Typhon. They jump into the Euphrates river to escape.

Previous Topic: How to Find the Constellations

[General] [Aries] [Taurus] [Gemini] [Cancer]
[Leo] [Virgo] [Libra] [Scorpius] [Sagittarius] [Aquarius] [Pisces]