Zodiac
denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. The zodiac is recognized as the first known celestial coordinate system. Babylonian astronomers developed the zodiac of twelve signs. The etymology of the term zodiac
is that it comes from the Latin zodiacus
, from the Greek ??d?a??? [??????], meaning "circle of animals", derived from ??d???, the diminutive of ???? "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Aquarius, Virgo, Gemini and for some Libra). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit sodi
, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.''' [1]
The zodiac also means a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a means of explaining and predicting events on Earth.
|
ZODIAC TICKETS
|
Zodiac in astrology
Astrologers use astronomical observations of the movements of the night sky for
divinatory purposes. The zodiac remains in use in modern astrology, though the issue of
tropical astrology (used mainly by Western astrologers) and
sidereal astrology (used mainly by Indian astrologers) is central. At issue in the debate is whether the signs should be defined in terms of zones derived from nodal points defined by Earth's motion during a
tropical year , or whether the signs should be defined in terms of signs roughly aligned with the constellations of the same name (for sidereal astrologers). This matters because of an astronomical phenomenon called the
precession of the equinoxes, whereby the position of the stars in sky has changed over time. Therefore, over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations, or their Indian counterparts. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance.
Western zodiac
The modern longitudes for each sign of 30° longitude. In terms of:
- the sidereal zodiac described here in this article the longitudes are calibrated by treating the star Aldebaran as 45° and Antares as 235°
- the tropical zodiac, the longitudinal calibration is set according to the position of the Sun along the ecliptic at the moment of the vernal equinox each year
For the sidereal zodiac, the movement of the Sun through each sign corresponds roughly with the constellation of the same name. For the tropical zodiac the movement of the Sun through each sign corresponds roughly to the same days of the
Gregorian Calendar each year (precisely the same days relative to the time of the vernal equinox).
- Aries (0°) (The Ram)
- Taurus (30°) (The Bull)
- Gemini (60°) (The Twins)
- Cancer (90°) (The Crab)
- Leo (120°) (The Lion)
- Virgo (150°) (The Virgin)
- Libra (180°) (The Scale or The Balance)
- Scorpio (210°) (The Scorpion)
- Sagittarius (240°) (The Archer)
- Capricorn (270°) (The Horned Goat)
- Aquarius (300°) (The Water-bearer)
- Pisces (330°) (The Fish)
Indian zodiac
Traditional
Hindu astrology has a sidereal coordinate zodiac system with twelve signs. The names of the Hindu zodiacal signs, or ''
rasi''s, are similar to Graeco-Babylonian signs:
"MESH" (Aries)
"VRISABH" (Taurus)
"MITHUN" (Gemini)
"KARK" (Cancer)
"SINGH" (Leo)
"KANYA" (Virgo)
"TULA" (Libra)
"VRUSHCHIK" (Scorpion)
"DHANU" (Sagittarius)
"MAKAR" (Capricornus)
"KUMBH" (Aquarius)
"MEEN or MATSAYA" (Pisces)
This "Hindu zodiac" (''