The 12 constellations of the zodiac, which make up a horoscope, are closely linked to the motion of the Earth through space. These symbols are derived from the constellations that depict the apparent path taken by the sun throughout the year.

You might assume that the dates in a horoscope correspond to the times when the sun passes through each constellation. However, this assumption is incorrect. Astrology and astronomy are separate systems, so they don’t always agree. In addition, a closer look at the Earth, sun, and star movements reveals the zodiac to be more complex than you might expect!

The sun appears to pass before different constellations as the Earth orbits the sun. As a result, the sun’s position about distant background stars varies from day to day, much like how the moon appears in a different spot in the sky each night. The sun isn’t circling the Earth. Instead, the Earth’s motion around our star causes it to appear to be moving.

Constellations appear in front of or “in” the sun over a year. During Gemini month, the sun is visible; during Cancer month, it is not. According to the newspaper’s horoscope, the dates listed indicate when the sun will be in each sign of the zodiac. For example, the period between March 21 and April 19 is reserved for the sign Aries. It’s important to note that your astrological sign doesn’t necessarily tell you what constellation your sun was in on your birthday.

We need to know more about how the Earth rotates to determine why the constellations are no longer aligned with their corresponding zodiac signs. In addition, we must address the issue of how we gauge the passage of time.

The sun and stars provide a shaky frame of reference for measuring time, making it even more challenging to pin down. For better or worse, our calendar is linked to the seasons. The summer solstice occurs on June 21 north of the equator, and the winter solstice occurs on December 21 south of the equator, roughly speaking. The North Pole is tilted towards the sun at solstice time.