As of May 31, 2023, we have updated our Code of Conduct.

Questions tagged [zodiac]

Questions about the stellar objects located in a band around 9° around the ecliptic. Consider using the tag "constellations".

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
2 votes
1 answer
153 views

What is this drawing about in "kitab al bulhan"?

Kitab al bulhan or "book of surprises" is medieval Persian manuscript written in Arabic. According to Wikipedia: The contents include subjects on astronomy, astrology and geomancy, ...
SamiM's user avatar
  • 29
-1 votes
1 answer
274 views

Why are there 12 zodiac signs?

My friend and I are arguing whether it is because there are 12 months or there are 12 constellations along this path. It makes more sense to me that, since there are 12 months, they divided the path ...
eral's user avatar
  • 37
3 votes
2 answers
240 views

On other planets, does the sun appear to pass through the same zodiac constellations?

Seen from Earth, the sun travels on a year-long orbit across the celestial sphere, passing through the twelve zodiac constellations. As I understand it, this path depends on our orbital plane---if our ...
user326210's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
114 views

Solar planets' aphelion longitudes in 2021?

What is the ecliptic longitude of the aphelion of each of the solar planets (Moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) currently in 2021 and from the observer's point of view on the earth? ...
Jade R.'s user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
1 answer
250 views

How did the ancients know the constellation in which the sun is located?

The zodiac constellations lie along the plane of the ecliptic. In Spring equinox, sun lies in Pisces constellations. So Pisces is not visible during the day (because the sun light) and not visible in ...
MABC's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
1 answer
112 views

Star Constellations: The Zodiac

I am trying to track down the original artist for the Zodiac diagram found here. I would like to obtain permission to use the diagram as an illustration in an astronomy book I have written. The ...
Spencer Rugaber's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
376 views

Are any of the zodiac stars about to go supernova anytime soon?

I have read that Betelgeuse, known as Ardra in Hindu astrology, could go supernova. Are any of the zodiac stars or the stars of lunar mansions about to become a black hole or supernova?
Satheesh Paul Antonysamy's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why do zodiac constellations not look like their names?

I am trying to answer the question of one of my youngest students (who is not yet in school), and although going through books, wikipedia etc. I do not have a good answer to his question yet: Why ...
B--rian's user avatar
  • 5,454
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why isn't the constellation of that month's zodiac prominent or even visible during that month?

For instance, the month of October is called the month of Leo, but you will mainly see Aries, Taurus and the Southern skies during October, Leo isn't very prominent. So how is the zodiac decided?
Lucas Tan's user avatar
  • 139
0 votes
1 answer
130 views

Position of the Sun in the constellation Pisces around the year 1500

I am reading a book on ancient astronomy and it claims that around the year 1500 the position of the sun, at the time of the spring equinox, was on the tail end of the second fish in the constellation ...
Benjamin's user avatar
  • 133
-1 votes
1 answer
88 views

Based on March equinox, when is the time that the sun enters Taurus? [closed]

If March equinox is on 20th March (see the table in the link), according to it, when is the time that the sun enters Taurus? Is it on April 19 or April 20?
Reckless Glacier's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
755 views

Based on what a month determined as of a certain zodiac constellation?

Since many of the 12 astrological signs (zodiacal constellations) may be visible in any single night, based on what is determined that this month (for 30 days!) is Capricorn, or Aquarius or Pisces etc....
Reckless Glacier's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
3k views

How many of the whole zodiac constellations can be seen in one single night?

As far as I understand, since the the 12 zodiac constellations (astrological signs) 'surround' the earth, hence it's possible to see by naked eyes a group of 6 astrological signs (only) simultaneously ...
Reckless Glacier's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
1k views

Right Ascension to Zodiac House

At the moment (01-04-2020 09:36) the Moon is situated in Gemini: "The Moon is currently in the constellation of Gemini. The current Right Ascension is 06h 37m 56s and the Declination is +23° 42' 09”."...
Matt Jameson's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
274 views

What is the exact time of sun stay in each zodiac every year on sidereal year duration?

I tried to reverse engineer from astro-chart times at which sun stays in a zodiac. Here is the list. ...
Suresh Chaudhari's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
110 views

How can I get the exact time of each zodiac every year?

I want to make a calculator for Chinese New Year calendar. There is a rule that a leap year happens if the eclipse happens before each zongqi (equivalent to the middle of zodiac sign, ie. 15º, 45º, ...
Hoy Cheung's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
662 views

Is the equinox Sun always at the same zodiac sign in the ecliptic belt?

During the year the Sun moves along the ecliptic passing all the signs of the zodiac belt, in my understanding. This means that it takes ~1 month to go from one zodiac sign to the next. The ...
Jim's user avatar
  • 245
3 votes
1 answer
844 views

What is the great (platonic?) year?

How could a great year be explained in laymen's terms? According to the definition in NASA's Aerospace Dictionary it is a complete cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic that completes in 26000 ...
Jim's user avatar
  • 245
1 vote
2 answers
609 views

What is meant by sun's path through zodiac

I read somewhere that sun's daily course and complete cycle is visible in the ecliptic belt by zodiac constellations. I didn't understand what that means closest I could find online is: https://www....
Jim's user avatar
  • 245
0 votes
1 answer
203 views

Simple rule to find some of the zodiac constellations after sunset?

How do I find some of the constellations of the zodiac without remembering their locations on the sky? I think it should be quite simple if you are located in the northern hemisphere and you know 1) ...
Roman Pokrovskij's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
938 views

What are the RAs of the boundaries between traditional zodiacal signs?

I'm trying to figure out at what right ascension (RA) — not celestial longitude — the sun enters the various traditional (Western) astrological signs of the Zodiac; but I can't figure out how to ...
orome's user avatar
  • 331