Zodiac

  In astronomy, the zodiac (Greek: ζ?διακ?ς, zoidiakos) is the ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic, which is the apparent path of the Sun across the sky over the course of the year. The Moon and planets also lie within the ecliptic, and so are also within the constellations of the zodiac. In astrology, the zodiac denotes those signs that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. As such, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, to be more precise, an ecliptic coordinate system, taking the ecliptic as the origin of latitude, and the position of the sun at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.

It is known to have been in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean period (mid-1st millennium BC), which, in turn, derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic. The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy's Almagest (2nd century AD). It was originally described in Rigveda. The term zodiac may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the Moon and the planets corresponding to the band of about eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic. The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body; e.g., the "zodiac of the Moon" is the band of five degrees above and below the ecliptic. By extension, the "zodiac of the comets" may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets.

  The term zodiac derives from Latin zodiacus, which in its turn comes from the Greek ζ?διακ?ς κ?κλος (zodiakos kuklos), meaning circle of animals, derived from ζ?διον (zodion), the diminutive of ζ?ον (zoon) animal. The name is motivated by the fact that half of the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals as well as two mythological hybrids.

Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one, the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology.

 By Caroline Nuñez

Controversy in interpreting astrological zodiac signs

  Astronomy from the beginning knows and has calculated that the duration and number of zodiacal signs described and that astrology is based are wrong. Astronomically it is known that the zodiacal signs are not the same length of time, since the zodiacalconstellations have different sizes, and therefore, the signs of the Zodiac should takedifferent numbers of days, and therefore should not be divided arbitrarily to cover equally a period of one year. Equally well known that in the strip of sky called the Zodiac, through which the Sun transits, there is also a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus call (Ophiuchus).If this is the fact that the Earth's axis moves each year, then after about three thousandyears since the original fixed zodiac horoscope would have to delay a complete sign.Admittedly, the existence of the thirteenth sign was already known since antiquity.

  Although the mere observation of the current sky shows the temporary presence as athirteenth constellation Ophiuchus, many astrologers claim that astrology does not change discovery and continue to use the Babylonian horoscope, consisting of twelve signs, as the Zodiac sign and constellation are different ideas.

 By Caroline Nuñez

The three traditions

   The three main traditions of the western astrology, India and China, share the same fundamental concept of a twelve zodiac signs Capricorn repeating two cycles of the year, they divided into four basic types. You can compare the twelve signs of every tradition and, despite the differences, you may notice some similarity in their characteristics.

  Western and Indian traditions agree on the subdivision of the signs based on the elements of fire, earth, air and water, although the Indian elements are generally known by their Sanskrit names: shingles (fire), Prithivi (earth), Vayu ( air) and jala (water). The Chinese tradition simply uses numbers to name the four groups of signs, called "trills" (ie, three signs in each group). Chinese tradition also uses elements to describe the twelve signs, but uses a different system, which is five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. This system does not correspond directly with the use of traditional elements of Western and Indian, so it is important not to confuse them.

  You can compare and relate the signs of the three traditions because each twelve signs associates to a different month of the solar year, and they coincide in some form in all three traditions. Western and Indian Signs differ by about a month due to different ways of measuring the zodiac, which is reflected in the divergence over time starting from a common origin. The Chinese characters are based on the Chinese agricultural calendar solar periods and does not match the other two traditions, differing with each one for about two weeks. The Chinese calendar is different from the better known sixty-year cycle in which each year is associated with a zodiac sign and element.

Astro         Element                Zodiac signs                        Dates                        
Mars               Fire                       Aries                             March 21 - April 20               
Venus            Earth                     Taurus                           April 21 - May 20                  
Mercury         Air                          Gemini                         May 21 - June 20                   
Moon             Water                     Cancer                        June 21 - July 22,                 
Sun                Fire                         Leo                              July 23 - August 22                 
Mercury         Earth                      Virgo                            August 23 - September 22       
Venus            Air                          Libra                            September 23 - October 22         
Pluto              Water                     Scorpion                     October 23 - November 21           
Jupiter           Fire                         Sagittarius                  November 22 - December 21      
Saturn           Earth                       Capricorn                   December 22 - January 19             
Uranus          Air                            Aquarius                    January 20 - February 19                  

Neptune        Water                       Pisces                       February 20 - March 20     

By Caroline Nuñez

Zodiacal Sign

According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity, so it is claimed that the twelve signs represent twelve basic personality or characteristicexpression patterns.
In the first two astrology, the emphasis is on space, and movement of the sun, moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiacal signs. In Chinese astrology, on the otherhand, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months and times of day. A common feature of all three traditions, however, is the meaning of rising sign, that is, the zodiacal sign that is rising (according to the rotation of the Earth) on the eastern horizon at the time of the birth of the person.

By Caroline Nuñez

How and when to locate the constellations of the zodiac? And his emitologias

To find constellations is a stimulus for any beginner, and that we all have spent for it as an adventure opposite to the challenge of the dark sky that we have on us for any night. The key consists of identifying the most brilliant and then of jumping from star to star according to the directions that have. To be able to identify correctly the constellations, it is necessary to be able to see the stars that draw his figures. From here, when already we have located some zodiacal constellation we are moving with the sight to the constellations that first this one has to the side, always and when we have a map of the night sky or a guide for simple sight. It is called so that we need to identify the drawings of the paper in the celestial sphere. Once we have identified a constellation in the night sky, other we will extract them automatically, the difficult thing is the first one, we must look for a person who knows one, alone one, with it it will be enough to begin in the map.



Aries.
Constellation does not place on alignments very notably. In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Pisces in the western part and Taurus in the eastern part. Aries also designates a sign of zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by it Sun from March 21 to April 19. Under the constellation of the Triangle, the constellation of Aries will be easy to find. It is a constellation formed of stars of half a brilliancy.

Etymology: According to the Greek Arian mythology it represents the sheep with the golden fleece. This fleece will be looked by the Argonauts in his adventures.

Taurus
In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Aries in the western part and Gemini in the eastern part. Taurus also designates a sign of zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun of 20 the April on May 20.

Etymology: Taurus possibly was one of the first constellations, named in recollection of the respected animal. The beast and the constellation have been over-praised in almost all the civilizations in the Half East. It is a region prolífera of the sky, where they find prominent stars, the heaps of the Pléyades (Seven Cabritas), the Híadas, and tenuous but important Cloudy of the Crab.

Gemini
In effect, if an imaginary line is planned between these two stars and what we chase this line towards the north it is, we will reach then easily Gemini, very extensive constellation in the shape of rectangle. Two more brilliant stars of the constellation are Pólux in the head of Gemini of left side.
Gemini designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from May 21 to June 21.

Etymology: In the classic Greece they represent two born twins of Leda, of different parents. The mortal and different immortal one (son of Zeus), that they shared everything except the death. To Beaver threatened before the death turns, Pólux asked the gods to take the life from him also not to separate of his brother. Finally they granted both the immortality, on condition of which united they were descending to Hades (between the dead men) the first part of the year and in the following half, they were returning to the life to the Olimpos. Later the former Greeks considered them the Santos Patrones of the sailors.

Cancer
Placed not far from Gemini, the small constellation of the Cancer shines. It is formed by six stars. These stars are of weak brilliancy. Cancer designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from June 22 to July 23.

Etymology: The Greek mythology saw a crab in this group of stars. Cancer was sent to the sky by the goddess Hera, after the serpent being squashed for bitting the big toe to Hercules, while it was fighting against Hidra, it marinades. For the Babylonians this constellation was a tortoise and the caldeos believed that it was a door where the souls of the sky were happening up to the human bodies.

Leo
He identifies thanks to a group of stars that a drawing typical of sickle forms. We can observe easily this constellation in our hemisphere in spring. The most brilliant star I Read it is Régulus (to I Read). This constellation is crossed by the Sun from August 10 to September 16. In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between the luminous Cancer in the western part and Virgo in the eastern part. I read also it designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from July 24 to August 23.

Etymology: They were the Greeks those who saw a lion thrown in this boss of stars. According to them, the lion was dead for Hercules as part of his 12 tasks.

Virgo
Is easily observable of our north hemisphere and uses as indication for the identification of other constellations. In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places I Read in the western part and It Frees in the eastern part. Virgo also designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun of August 24 to 22 the September.

Etymology: Many cultures have seen in this boss of stars a feminine important figure: the goddess fenisia of the love "Ishtar", the Greek "Perséfone", "Deméter" the goddess of the agriculture and up to the "Virgin Mary". Since he is next to Pound, the scale, also it was interpreted by the Greeks as the goddess of the Justice, He says.

Libra
In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Virgo in the western part and Scorpio in the eastern part. It is a modest constellation that does not contain any star of the first magnitude. Long ago it was considered to be the tweezers of Scorpio (his stars throw his name). Pound designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from September 23 to October 22.

Etymology: It does more than 2.000 years, the Romans identified this group of stars as a scale supported by Virgo. Previously one saw as part of Scorpion and for it the names of his principal stars mean " pliers more in the northern part " (alpha) and " pliers more in the southern part " (thread).

Scorpion
In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Pound to the oste and Sagittarius in the eastern part. He is in the southern hemisphere, very widely under the ecliptic. Initially, the constellation also was understanding to Pound. The latter has been separated from the Scorpio to complete to twelve the number of the zodiacal constellations. Scorpion designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from October 23 to November 21.

Etymology: In agreement to the Greek mythology, it represents to the scorpion that killed the hunter Orión, on having punctured it, and as consequence " they were placed in points objected in the sky ". When Scorpion goes out for the this horizon, Orión goes to bed for the west and vice versa.

Sagittarius
In the order of the zodiac, constellation places between Scorpio in the western part and Capricorn in the eastern part. When Scorpio is visible, Sagittarius is orientated easily, for his form. One places in the axis of two " eyes of the cat " of the tail of the Scorpio. The constellation is easily recognizable for an asterismo to form of tea-pot. Sagittarius designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from November 22 to December 20.

Etymology: The Greek culture saw in this boss of stars Croto, the son of the god Pan, inventor of the arch, which appears towards Scorpion. It is represented as a centaur by an arch, though another constellation named Centaur exists.

Capricorn
In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Sagittarius in the western part and Aquarius in the eastern part. Capricorn also designates a sign of the zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from December 21 to January 20. The constellation is relatively easy to place with relation to big alignments: it places on the right way that goes away of the Great one Dares, I happen for the heart of the Dragoon and for his head, to come to touch to Vega of the Lira, then Altair.

Etymology: The Babylonians and Sumerian created a meaning for this group of stars. Then it was taken by the Greeks, who saw in him his god Pan, who belonged similar to a kid and turned his back part into fish to escape of the marine monster Typhoon.

Aquarius
In the order of zodiac, the constellation places between Capricorn in the western part and Pisces in the eastern part. It is between the oldest constellations of sky. Éridan is in a zone of the sky often called the Sea, because of his abundance of such aquatic constellations the Whale, Fish, etc. Sometimes, the river Éridan is drawn coming from the jar of Aquarius. Aquarius also designates a sign of zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30° of the ecliptic crossed by it Sun from January 20 to February 18. The principal axis of Aquarius places in diagonal North-east / Southwest of the great square of Stick, Southern side. The constellation spreads on this axis from the feet of Stick up to the head of the Capricorn, marked by a couple of brilliant enough stars.

Etymology: This group of stars was seen in the antiquity as a young person who spills water of a pitcher. The water flows to the mouth of the fish of the south. Different interpretations exist in the matter: some of them say that it represents Ganímedes, others to Deucalión. The symbol of spilling water interprets the gods as a sacrifice, by what a space was given to him between the stars.

Pisces
In the order of the zodiac, the constellation places between Aquarius in the western part and Aries in the eastern part. Though big enough, it cuts away a skirt of the sky removed from the plane of the Milky Way and does not contain that few visible stars, totally enough little luminous. Pisces also designates a sign of Zodiac corresponding to the sector of 30 ° of the ecliptic crossed by the Sun from February 19 to March 20.

Etymology: This constellation is of Babylonian origin, from whom the former Greeks inherited it. In her they saw to two fish that escape for the river Euphrates, ties with a rope to his tails not to get lost. The fish are Aphrodite and his son Eros, two gods who took this form to flee of Typhoon, the marine monster of multiple heads.