The thirteenth constellation
13 zodiac signs? Ophiuchus and the 13th sign
Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, lies on the Sun’s path, so why is it not a zodiac sign? The “new zodiac signs” story explained, with the real dates.
The short answer
The Sun passes through the constellation Ophiuchus every year, in 2026 from November 30 to December 17. But astrological signs are not constellations: the tropical zodiac is twelve equal 30° sectors tied to the seasons, and that system has never included Ophiuchus. Your zodiac sign has not changed.
Have the zodiac signs changed?
Searches for “new”, “updated”, “changed” or “correct” zodiac sign dates almost always come from this story. The astrological signs have not been updated and are not changing: the twelve tropical signs are defined by the equinoxes, so the dates in our zodiac signs dates table are still correct. What has shifted is the sky behind them, which is why the true astronomical constellation dates differ.
Where the “13 signs” story came from
The idea resurfaces every few years. In 2016 a NASA educational article for children explained that the constellations had shifted since Babylonian times and that the Sun crosses 13 constellations. Media reported it as “NASA changed the zodiac”. NASA later clarified that it had not changed any signs; it had simply described astronomy.
13 zodiac signs dates (the “new zodiac signs”)
If you use the constellations instead of the signs, the dates in 2026 are as follows (UTC). These are astronomical facts, not an alternative astrology recognized by the major traditions.
| Constellation | Sun inside (2026) |
|---|---|
| Aries | April 19 – May 13 |
| Taurus | May 14 – June 20 |
| Gemini | June 21 – July 20 |
| Cancer | July 21 – August 10 |
| Leo | August 11 – September 16 |
| Virgo | September 17 – October 30 |
| Libra | October 31 – November 22 |
| Scorpius | November 23 – November 29 |
| Ophiuchus | November 30 – December 17 |
| Sagittarius | December 18 – January 19 |
| Capricornus | January 20 – February 15 |
| Aquarius | February 16 – March 11 |
| Pisces | March 12 – April 18 |
The Serpent Bearer
Ophiuchus is usually identified with Asclepius, the healer of Greek myth, holding the serpent (the constellation Serpens). His staff with a single serpent is still a symbol of medicine. Its brightest star is Rasalhague.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ophiuchus a zodiac sign?
Not in Western (tropical) or Vedic (sidereal) astrology. A few modern astrologers use a 13-sign system, but it is not traditional.
What are the 13 zodiac signs dates?
The 13-constellation dates are in the table above; they follow the constellations the Sun actually crosses.
Did NASA change the zodiac?
No. NASA described the constellations; astrology’s signs are a separate system.
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide