Two reference points
Tropical vs sidereal zodiac signs
Why Western and Vedic astrology can give you different signs: the tropical zodiac follows the seasons, the sidereal zodiac follows the stars, and in 2026 they are about 24.2° apart.
| Sign | Tropical dates (Western) | Sidereal dates 2026 (Lahiri, UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 to April 19 | April 14 – May 14 |
| Taurus | April 20 to May 20 | May 15 – June 14 |
| Gemini | May 21 to June 20 | June 15 – July 15 |
| Cancer | June 21 to July 22 | July 16 – August 16 |
| Leo | July 23 to August 22 | August 17 – September 16 |
| Virgo | August 23 to September 22 | September 17 – October 16 |
| Libra | September 23 to October 22 | October 17 – November 15 |
| Scorpio | October 23 to November 21 | November 16 – December 15 |
| Sagittarius | November 22 to December 21 | December 16 – January 13 |
| Capricorn | December 22 to January 19 | January 14 – February 11 |
| Aquarius | January 20 to February 18 | February 12 – March 13 |
| Pisces | February 19 to March 20 | March 14 – April 13 |
Tropical zodiac signs
The tropical zodiac starts at the March equinox (0° Aries) and divides the ecliptic into twelve 30° signs. It is tied to the seasons, so Aries always begins in spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Western astrology and this site’s dates use it.
Sidereal zodiac signs
The sidereal zodiac also has twelve 30° signs, but its starting point is fixed relative to the stars. Because of precession, the two zodiacs drift apart by about one degree every 72 years. The difference is called the ayanamsa; the Indian government’s standard Lahiri ayanamsa is about 24.22° in 2026. Vedic (Jyotish) astrology uses the sidereal zodiac.
Which is right?
Neither is more “correct”: they are different conventions. Tropical signs describe the Sun’s position relative to the seasons, sidereal signs its position relative to the stars. Neither matches the uneven IAU constellations exactly. See the constellation dates.
Find your sidereal sign
The birth chart calculator can show your chart in the sidereal zodiac (choose “Sidereal, Lahiri”). Read about Vedic astrology and rashi signs.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my sign different in Vedic astrology?
Because Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is about 24° behind the tropical zodiac. Most people move back one sign.
What is the ayanamsa?
The angular difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. Different Indian schools use slightly different values.
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