The real sky
Zodiac signs constellations
The 13 constellations the Sun actually passes through, their sizes, and the dates in 2026 when the Sun is in each one, compared with the astrological sign dates.
| Constellation | Sun inside (2026, UTC) | Days | Area (sq. degrees) | Astrological sign dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | April 19 – May 13 | 25 | 441 | March 21 to April 19 |
| Taurus | May 14 – June 20 | 38 | 797 | April 20 to May 20 |
| Gemini | June 21 – July 20 | 29 | 514 | May 21 to June 20 |
| Cancer | July 21 – August 10 | 20 | 506 | June 21 to July 22 |
| Leo | August 11 – September 16 | 37 | 947 | July 23 to August 22 |
| Virgo | September 17 – October 30 | 44 | 1,294 | August 23 to September 22 |
| Libra | October 31 – November 22 | 23 | 538 | September 23 to October 22 |
| Scorpius | November 23 – November 29 | 6 | 497 | October 23 to November 21 |
| Ophiuchus | November 30 – December 17 | 18 | 948 | not a sign |
| Sagittarius | December 18 – January 19 | 32 | 867 | November 22 to December 21 |
| Capricornus | January 20 – February 15 | 27 | 414 | December 22 to January 19 |
| Aquarius | February 16 – March 11 | 24 | 980 | January 20 to February 18 |
| Pisces | March 12 – April 18 | 37 | 889 | February 19 to March 20 |
Are zodiac signs constellations?
The astrological signs are twelve equal 30° sectors measured from the March equinox. The constellations are star patterns of very different sizes, with official boundaries set by the International Astronomical Union in 1930. Virgo spans more than 40 days of the Sun’s path; Scorpius barely a week. Ophiuchus, which is not an astrological sign, holds the Sun for about 18 days.
Why the dates have shifted: precession
The Earth’s axis wobbles slowly, completing a circle about every 26,000 years. This precession moves the March equinox west along the ecliptic by about one degree every 72 years. When the tropical zodiac was fixed about 2,000 years ago, the signs roughly matched their constellations; today the Sun is in the constellation Pisces at the March equinox, not Aries.
Star charts
Each chart shows the constellation’s traditional stick figure with stars down to magnitude 6, the faintest visible to the naked eye under a dark sky.
Frequently asked questions
How many zodiac constellations are there?
Thirteen constellations lie on the Sun’s path: the twelve familiar ones plus Ophiuchus. Astrology still uses twelve signs.
What is the largest zodiac constellation?
Virgo, at 1,294 square degrees, the second-largest constellation in the whole sky after Hydra.
Can I see my zodiac constellation on my birthday?
No: on your birthday the Sun is in (or near) that constellation, so it is above the horizon during the day. It is best seen about six months later.
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide