What are zodiac signs?

Answer 1

I don't want to top that long answer, but I'm not sure if that was really that understandable.

In an easier sense, zodiac signs have a major part to do with the constellations in the skies. Each zodiac sign has a representative constellation in the sky that astrologers (not astronomers) have then associated with the 365 day calendar.

Then t hey hypothesized, in the days where the heavens were all about the sky and universe and such, that each zodiac sign is representative of certain characeristics. While every person is unique, every person of a certain zodiac sign exhibits a common trait (leadership, sensitivity, etc.).

Answer 2

Both Western and Vedic astrology employ a zodiac which divides the ecliptic into twelve astrological signs of equal length.

The Western tropical astrology starts with the first point of Aries, which is defined as the point at which the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun through the heavens) crosses the celestial equator at the spring equinox. It is important to note that the tropical signs are completely independent of the astronomical constellations after which they were originally named and no longer bear any relationship to them.

Western sidereal astrology and Indian Vedic astrology use signs which more or less coincide with the stellar constellations of the same name.

Because the calendar is defined by the movement of the Earth around the Sun, and its orbit is very nearly circular, the sign in which the Sun falls on any day of the year is fairly predictable, though it will vary a little due to the effect of the extra day in leap years. These dates are given in the article that deals with each sign individually. Sidereal astrology also has to adjust for the precession of the equinoxes which produces a slow change of the time of year when constellations are visible in the night sky over a 25,000 year cycle.

To determine the sign in which the moon and other planets fall on any given day, it is necessary to consult an ephemeris or use an astrological computer program which will have a built-in ephemeris; these computer programs make it quick and easy to calculate the natal chart (also called horoscope) so that the astrologer can spend more time interpreting the chart rather than actually calculating it.

Answer 3

Actually there were 13 zodiac signs but the number dropped to 13 when that number became superstitious after the death of Christ implied 13 people at the last supper. Also, you should note by the attached article that the modern zodiac is off by one month from the real position of the sun in the zodiac so all astrology is off by one month. That doesn't make a difference in it's predictions though since they're all bogus anyways.

Answer 4

The zodiac is the set of constellations that the Sun passes through during the year from Earth's point of view. There are 13 of them (note: 13, not 12). The Chinese screwed them up and rounded of 2,000 years ago when they figured them out. The extra one is Ophiucus, and the Sun is in that constellation at the end of November.

Answer 5

Agreeing with DanE. Also, there are 12 of them.