The 12 zodiac signs dates back to Babylonian times over 3000 years ago. The zodiac represents the path that the sun travels on its journey through the sky over the course of a year. The zodiac is divided into 12 signs, each one representing a constellation that the sun passes through. Each zodiac sign spans 30 degrees of the 360-degree path of the sun. The dates for each zodiac sign mark when the sun enters that particular constellation. Knowing your zodiac sign date range can give you insights into your personality and compatibility with others.
What are the 12 zodiac signs?
Here are the 12 zodiac signs in order:
- Aries
- Taurus
- Gemini
- Cancer
- Leo
- Virgo
- Libra
- Scorpio
- Sagittarius
- Capricorn
- Aquarius
- Pisces
Each zodiac sign is associated with different personality traits and attributes. For example, Aries is known for being adventurous and enthusiastic, while Cancer is nurturing and emotional. Understanding the traits of your zodiac can provide insights into your innate qualities and tendencies.
What are the dates for each zodiac sign?
Here are the dates for each of the 12 zodiac signs:
| Zodiac Sign | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 | April 19 |
| Taurus | April 20 | May 20 |
| Gemini | May 21 | June 20 |
| Cancer | June 21 | July 22 |
| Leo | July 23 | August 22 |
| Virgo | August 23 | September 22 |
| Libra | September 23 | October 22 |
| Scorpio | October 23 | November 21 |
| Sagittarius | November 22 | December 21 |
| Capricorn | December 22 | January 19 |
| Aquarius | January 20 | February 18 |
| Pisces | February 19 | March 20 |
The dates can vary slightly from year to year, sometimes starting or ending a day earlier or later. This is because the zodiac calendar follows the sun’s journey, rather than the Gregorian calendar.
What does my zodiac sign date range say about me?
Your zodiac sign is determined by the date range when you were born. The sign that was present in the sky at your time and place of birth determines your sun sign. Here is what each zodiac date range represents:
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Aries are bold leaders who love adventure. They are passionate, enthusiastic and always up for excitement. Their confidence and competitive nature make them natural pioneers.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Taurus values stability and enjoys life’s simple pleasures. They are practical, devoted and responsible. Their need for security makes Taurus reliable and trustworthy.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Gemini are lively and energetic. They are curious intellectuals who love learning and sharing ideas. Their versatility and wit make them fun and exciting.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Cancer is deeply caring and protective. Family and home are essential to Cancer’s happiness. They are emotional, nurturing and intuitive.
Leo (July 23 to August 22)
Leo loves being the center of attention and expressing themselves boldly. They are ambitious, creative and passionate. Leo is loyal and desires to make a dramatic impact.
Virgo (August 23 to September 22)
Virgo pays close attention to detail and loves analyzing information. They are meticulous, practical and intelligent. Virgo strives for perfection and wants to serve others.
Libra (September 23 to October 22)
Libra craves balance, harmony and beauty. They avoid conflict and enjoy intellectual pursuits. Libra is charming, diplomatic and seeks fairness for all.
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)
Scorpio is intense and mysterious. They are emotionally deep, probing and passionate. Scorpio is reserved yet forceful with fierce protectiveness.
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)
Sagittarius has a huge sense of adventure. They seek freedom, knowledge and new philosophies. Sagittarius is optimistic, fun-loving and enthusiastic for life.
Capricorn (December 22 to January 19)
Capricorn is disciplined and has masterful focus. They strive for success through hard work and determination. Capricorn is practical, responsible and ambitious.
Aquarius (January 20 to February 18)
Aquarius follows their own path with creativity and vision. They think outside the box, are intellectual and humanitarians who want to make the world better.
Pisces (February 19 to March 20)
Pisces are empathetic, spiritual and imaginative. They are sensitive dreamers who think and feel deeply. Pisces absorbs emotions around them like a sponge.
When does a zodiac sign change?
A zodiac sign changes when the sun moves into a new zodiac constellation on its annual path. This happens on the first day listed for each sign in the date ranges above. For example, the sun enters Aries on March 21, marking the beginning of the Aries zodiac sign.
The exact date when the sun changes signs varies slightly each year, sometimes a day earlier or later. This is due to the difference between the zodiac calendar which follows the sun’s movement and the Gregorian calendar that resets on January 1st each year.
What if I’m born on the cusp between two zodiac signs?
If you are born close to the change of dates between two signs, you are considered to be “on the cusp” between signs. For example, if your birthday is March 19th or 20th, you would be considered on the cusp between Pisces and Aries.
Being born on a cusp means you likely resonate with and exhibit the traits of both zodiac signs. Most astrologers would say that the sign the sun was actually in at the time and location of your birth is dominant. However, cusp personalities tend to be dynamic blends of both adjoining signs’ energies.
Can the dates of the signs ever change?
The dates of the zodiac signs are based on fixed constellations in space so they remain the same over thousands of years. However, a major discovery in astronomy did shift the zodiac calendar by about a month over 2000 years ago.
Around the year 0 AD, astronomers realized the sun didn’t precisely align with the constellations at the times originally marked in the Babylonian zodiac system from 1500 B.C. This meant the dates for the zodiac signs were about a month off.
Some astrologers adapted to this new discovery by shifting the zodiac dates. However, many astrologers still adhere to the traditional Babylonian zodiac calendar from antiquity rather than the adjusted astronomical calendar.
Conclusion
The 12 zodiac signs each have set date ranges marking when the sun enters those constellations. Learning your zodiac sign can reveal key insights about your inborn traits, drives and even compatibility with others. Zodiac signs shift on specific transitional dates as the sun journeys around the celestial sky. While the constellations remain fixed over thousands of years, discoveries in astronomy did change interpretations of zodiac dates over time. Whether you follow traditional interpretations or adapted astronomical models, knowing your zodiac’s dates and meanings can be a useful tool for self-knowledge.
