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Jul 22, 2022 · 12 zodiac constellations. There are twelve constellations that roughly correspond to the traditional zodiac signs and are recognized as members of the zodiac family. These are: Aries; Taurus; Gemini; Cancer; Leo; Virgo; Libra; Scorpius;
- Capricornus. Capricornus (“sea-goat”) is the smallest of the 12 zodiac constellations. It is the 40th largest constellation in the night sky overall, taking up a 1.0% area of the celestial heavens.
- Aquarius. Aquarius (“water-carrier”) is the 2nd biggest zodiac constellation. It is the 10th largest constellation overall, taking up a 2.4% area of the sky.
- Pisces. Pisces (“fishes”) is the 4th biggest zodiac constellation. It is the 14th largest constellation overall, taking up a 2.2% area of the sky. Pisces is visible in the northern hemisphere between late summer and winter.
- Aries. Aries (“ram”) is the 11th biggest zodiac constellation. It is the 39 largest constellation overall, taking up a 1.1% area of the sky. In the northern hemisphere, Aries is visible between winter and spring, although best seen during the month of December.
- The Sagittarius constellation. At the end and of every year, approximately between November 23 and December 21, the sun passes through the Sagittarius constellation.
- The Capricorn constellation. The sun transits through the Capricorn constellation in January through February. It’s sometimes called The Sea Goat, since the ancient Greeks compared it to a goat with a fish instead of a tail.
- The Aquarius constellation. In February, it’s Aquarius, or the Water Bear, which is on the path of the sun along the ecliptic. This constellation is one of the oldest we know, as it was coined by the ancient Babylonians, who thought it resembled an old man pouring water from a pitcher.
- The Pisces constellation. Pisces, or “The Fishes”, becomes prominent in the ecliptic every year in the month of March. The Pisces constellation represents the Greco-Roman goddess Venus, or Aphrodite in its Greek name.
- Taurus and Gemini. The zodiac constellations best seen in the winter are Taurus and Gemini. The constellations’ brightest stars, Aldebaran and Pollux, are part of the Winter Circle, a large hexagon asterism formed by six first-magnitude stars.
- Cancer, Leo and Virgo. The spring zodiac constellations Leo and Virgo are easily found using the bright stars of the Big Dipper and the constellation Cancer can be identified using the Sickle of Leo, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, and Procyon in Canis Minor.
- Libra and Scorpius. The southern zodiac constellations Libra and Scorpius are found between the Y of Virgo and the Teapot in Sagittarius. Libra’s brightest stars, Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi (Beta and Alpha Librae) appear as the extended claws of the Scorpion.
- Sagittarius and Capricornus. Sagittarius is very easy to identify because its eight brightest stars form a prominent asterism known as the Teapot. Visible above the horizon during the northern hemisphere summer, the Teapot is located just next to a rich Milky Way field in the southern sky.
The 12 Zodiacal Constellations or the Signs of the Zodiac are famous today for their use in Astrology and the bogus art of predicting the future.
The Zodiac is a set of 12 constellations tracing the yearly path of the Sun, Moon and planets across our sky. Ancient cultures created the signs of the Zodiac and other constellations to help make sense of the cosmos. During the Earth's orbit, the Sun appears to pass in front of the constellations of the Zodiac.
Jun 20, 2024 · Astrology meets astronomy in this comprehensive guide to the 12 zodiac constellations. Learn their stories and how to find them in the sky above you.
