What's your sign? Your Zodiac sign is obsolete

[IsaacC]

I'm not into horoscopes or anything, but I find this particularly interesting. Useful for science-oriented people who want to make a good case against their friends who believe in astrology by presenting them with astronomical facts.

Your Zodiac sign is obsolete.

The Zodiac cycle is actually the first known celestial coordinate system. It tracked the movement of the Sun as the Earth orbited around it. Through the year, the Sun passes through the 12 constellations of the zodiac - Leo, Scorpio, Pisces, what have you. Your Zodiac sign is basically the constellation the Sun is passing through on the day you were born.

That's how it worked 2,200 years ago. Now it's just obsolete. So much time has passed that the constellations are no longer where they were 2,200 years ago, relative to the Earth. This is because of the precession phenomenon, which causes the Earth to wobble on its axis.

Now, those who are born under the Aries sign of the obsolete Zodiac system are actually Pisces, because from March 11 to April 18, that's the constellation the Sun is passing through.

What's crazier is that now there's a 13th Zodiac sign, now that precession phenomenon has been taken into account. Here are your real Zodiac signs, for what they're worth:

• Capricorn - Jan 20 to Feb 16
• Aquarius - Feb 16 to Mar 11
• Pisces - Mar 11 to Apr 18
• Aries - Apr 18 to May 13
• Taurus - May 13 to Jun 21
• Gemini - Jun 21 to Jul 20
• Cancer - Jul 20 to Aug 10
• Leo - Aug 10 to Sep 16
• Virgo - Sep 16 to Oct 30
• Libra - Oct 30 to Nov 23
• Scorpius - Nov 23 to Nov 29
• Ophiuchus - Nov 29 to Dec 17
• Sagittarius - Dec 17 to Jan 20

Just a tip though. It's not good to start with the pick up line "What's your sign?" and then enter into an astronomy discourse about the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

source: livescience

[p0p0]

Ophiuchus sounds so much better then Sagittarius.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiuchus

Awesome.

[GinoD]

Whut? Ophiuchus? So does that make it the 13th tribe of Kobol (i.e. the cylons)? Hahaha!

Anyway. Good info to build a case on them astrology dolts who think horoscopes are everything. Imma use this in the future. And whoa, mind job! I'm no longer a gemini!

[GlennM]

So I'm a Pisces now? Whoever thought that even zodiacs can get obsolete..hahaha

*gulp* I just revealed my bday margin..haha feel like getting a few drinks Gino? Isaac? By few, I mean a lot, btw. hahaha

I think I'll check this Ophiuchus thing out..

[Darkfairy]

Well that's interested. I'm Capricorn.

[Mraellis]

Apparently I'm a Cancer and not a Leo then. :o

The sims has been telling me that for years and i called it a liar! :o

[Valiant]

Gonna tell the wife, she's always reading hers.