Buzz
The constellations Ophiuchus and the Serpent are most visible during a Northern Hemisphere summer or Southern Hemisphere winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, they can also be spotted in the southwest sky during autumn. JoeLena/Getty ImageIn 2016, it appeared that NASA had redefined the zodiac, introducing a previously overlooked star. This sparked widespread online frenzy, with many wondering if their astrological identities had been upended. Could a Capricorn actually be a Sagittarius? What implications did this have?
However, there's a key distinction: Astronomy and astrology are not the same. Ophiuchus (pronounced oh-FEW-kuss) is a constellation
From an astronomical perspective, your zodiac "sign" (or constellation) is determined by drawing an imaginary line connecting Earth, the sun, and the constellation aligned with them on your birthday as Earth revolves around the sun. The zodiac was rooted in the Babylonians' worldview from three millennia ago, as stated by NASA. They designed the zodiac for practicality, using Earth's position 3,000 years ago and dividing it into 12 equal segments. Since the Babylonians followed a 12-month lunar calendar based on moon phases, they omitted a 13th sign to maintain simplicity. Ophiuchus was the 13th constellation they acknowledged but excluded.
Due to the gradual shift in Earth's axis, the alignment between Earth, the sun, and the constellations has changed over time. As a result, the constellation visible on a specific date in ancient Babylon may differ from what we observe today.
"When the Babylonians established the 12 zodiac signs, a birthday between July 23 and August 22 placed someone under the constellation Leo. However, after 3,000 years, the sky has shifted due to changes in Earth's axis (North Pole). Now, someone born on August 4 would fall under Cancer (one constellation earlier) instead of Leo," according to NASA.
The sun passes through the constellation Ophiuchus for only 18 days (November 30 to December 18) before moving into Sagittarius. Ophiuchus can be observed in the southwest sky during autumn and summer in the Northern Hemisphere. (EarthSky provides detailed instructions for locating it). Its name derives from Greek words meaning "snake" and "holding," and the constellation resembles a figure grasping a serpent.
In this 19th-century constellation card illustration, Ophiuchus is depicted holding the serpent Serpens.
Bettman/Getty ImagesIt's important to distinguish between astronomy and astrology. Astrology is the belief that your birthdate or zodiac sign can influence your personality or predict future events. If Ophiuchus were included in astrology, the dates for each sign would shift, potentially altering your assigned sign (for example, Capricorn dates would change to January 20 – February 16 instead of December 22 – January 19). However, since Ophiuchus isn't part of the astrological system, those who identify with their current sign, like Scorpio, can continue to do so without concern.
While this article may seem critical of astrology enthusiasts, it's worth noting that humans have long assigned stories and significance to arbitrary symbols. Across various cultures and historical periods, people have developed systems of belief to make sense of the world.
