Table of Dates
The following table compares the Gregorian dates on which the Sun enters
- a sign in the Ptolemaic tropical zodiac
- a sign in the Hindu sidereal system
- the astronomical constellation of the same name as the sign, with constellation boundaries as defined in 1930 by the International Astronomical Union.
The theoretical beginning of Aries is the moment of vernal equinox, and all other dates shift accordingly. The precise Gregorian times and dates vary slightly from year to year as the Gregorian calendar shifts relative to the tropical year. These variations remain within less than two days' difference in the recent past and the near-future, vernal equinox in UT always falling either on 20 or 21 of March in the period of 1797 to 2043, falling on 19 March in 1796 the last time and in 2044 the next.
| Sign | Constellation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Symbol | Tropical zodiac (2011) |
Sidereal zodiac (2011) |
Name | IAU boundaries | Solar stay | Brightest star |
| Aries | 21 March – 20 April |
15 April - 15 May |
Aries | 19 April – 13 May | 25 days | Hamal | |
| Taurus | 21 April – 21 May |
16 May - 15 June |
Taurus | 14 May – 19 June | 37 days | Aldebaran | |
| Gemini | 22 May – 21 June |
16 June - 15 July |
Gemini | 20 June – 20 July | 31 days | Pollux | |
| Cancer | 22 June – 22 July |
16 July - 15 August |
Cancer | 21 July – 9 August | 20 days | Al Tarf | |
| Leo | 23 July – 22 August |
16 August - 15 September |
Leo | 10 August – 15 September | 37 days | Regulus | |
| Virgo | 23 August – 23 September |
16 September - 15 October |
Virgo | 16 September – 30 October | 45 days | Spica | |
| Libra | 24 September – 23 October |
16 October - 16 November |
Libra | 31 October – 22 November | 23 days | Zubeneschamali | |
| Scorpio | 24 October – 22 November |
16 November - 15 December |
Scorpius | 23 November – 29 November | 7 days | Antares | |
| Ophiuchus | n/a | Ophiuchus | 30 November – 17 December | 18 days | Rasalhague | ||
| Sagittarius | 23 November – 21 December |
16 December - 14 January |
Sagittarius | 18 December – 18 January | 32 days | Kaus Australis | |
| Capricorn | 22 December – 20 January |
15 January – 14 February |
Capricornus | 19 January – 15 February | 28 days | Deneb Algedi | |
| Aquarius | 21 January – 19 February |
15 February - 14 March |
Aquarius | 16 February – 11 March | 24 days | Sadalsuud | |
| Pisces | 20 February – 20 March |
15 March - 14 April |
Pisces | 12 March – 18 April | 38 days | Eta Piscium | |
Because the Earth's axis is at an angle, some signs take longer to rise than others, and the farther away from the equator the observer is situated, the greater the difference. Thus, signs are spoken of as "long" or "short" ascension.
Read more about this topic: Zodiac
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