Your horoscope: are you sure you know your sign?
Despite the advances in our understanding of the Earth and the stars over the past 2,000 years, the basic tenets of astrology have remained unchanged. Whether one considers astrology a relic of an earlier era or believes in celestial influence on our lives and personalities, its social influence is undeniable. It serves as a conversation starter, a way to find the right partner, as a means to plan the week ahead, or simply just for fun! The center of astrology is the zodiac, which is like a cosmic belt in the sky about 8° above or below the course of the sun. And it's divided into 12 signs. Or is it? Long ago, around 600 BCE, astrology based its calendar on the positions of the stars during the so-called vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. But here's the kicker: the Earth wobbles a bit. It's called precession, and it means the Earth has spun a little askew over thousands of years. This wobble shifts the equinoxes and messes up the signs of the zodiac. There is also an additional constellation called Ophiuchus in the orbit of the zodiac, but astrologers usually pretend that this constellation doesn't exist! Sure, astrology isn't supported by hard scientific evidence like astronomy; it's more of a belief system. But, nonetheless, what does NASA have to say about it? Find out this and other lesser-known curiosities about your zodiac sign in this gallery. Simply click on!
2024-01-08T15:05:47Z