Zodiac - what is it? How many zodiacal signs exist? Ophiuchus - the new sign?

Zodiac - what is it? This question is of interest to a huge number of people, because the riddles of astronomy and astrology just can not leave a person indifferent. These sciences are often confused. Although they are closely related, but each of them is studying his own subject. The zodiac belongs to both sciences, but in each, respectively, it has its unique meaning.

Zodiac and Astronomy

Zodiac - what is in astronomy? This word denotes the belt, which is located along the ecliptic, located on the celestial sphere. It is on this belt that all visible roads of the Sun, the Moon, and also other planets lie. The sun almost always follows the trajectory of its movement exactly according to the ecliptic, unlike all other luminaries, which periodically deviate from the north to the south.

Zodiac and astrology

Zodiac - what is in astrology? In astrology this word denotes a zodiacal belt, which is divided into twelve sectors. These sectors, each of which has its own unique metaphysical properties, are also called zodiac signs.

Structure

The structure of the zodiac is simple. It consists of four elements and three forms of manifestation. In each zodiac sign the main characteristic features of one of the elements of the universe are manifested. Fire, air, water and earth are the four main forces of the universe. Besides them, there are also three important elements of human existence: appearance, stabilization, death. The concepts that correspond to these elements, according to astrology, are the following: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Each element, like every concept, has its own unique characteristics. Thus, twelve zodiacal signs are formed from the elements and their principles of manifestation. On the one hand, each sign has the properties of all the others. On the other hand, a certain sign of the Zodiac has its own unique energy personality, which manifests through specific planets. The planets that are closest in nature to the sign are called exalting and rulers.

What does NASA say?

Most recently, the NASA SpacePlace portal posted an interesting article, where it is reported that the constellations have changed their position with respect to the solar ecliptic. In this regard, most publications that are engaged in the publication of horoscopes, wrote about some changes in the position of the signs of the zodiac. Now many people interested in horoscopes, worried about the question of how many signs of the zodiac exists today? NASA claims that astronomy has absolutely nothing to do with astrology, which, incidentally, is not even considered a science. Scientists say that the position of the stars is not able to influence human destinies. In addition, NASA gives a brief and accurate explanation of the difference between the zodiac and the zodiacal constellation. The zodiac is the belt near the ecliptic, along which the Sun moves. The ecliptic itself lies through thirteen constellations. The last constellation is the new 13 sign of the zodiac - Ophiuchus.

Why now?

In the distant past, when fundamental sciences did not yet exist, astronomers tried to find a connection between the imaginary position of the Sun and the Earth and various signs on the starry sky. Somewhere three thousand years ago in Babylon were introduced the concept of zodiacs, as well as zodiacal constellations. At that time, people used a calendar that was based on the twelve phases of the moon, so the zodiac was also divided into a corresponding number of parts. In the question of how many signs of the zodiac exists, the ancient people converged on the number thirteen. But, since it was uncomfortable, the latter had to be abandoned. And so, when 3000 years passed, some changes appeared in the general picture of the zodiacs. The bottom line is that during the rotation of our planet the precession of the earth's axis occurs. Its period is 25,800 years. Thus, the Earth changes its location with respect to the zodiacal constellations during the year.

New dates

Since most scientists do not want to hear anything about astrology as a science, it has only recently been discovered that the way of the Sun is affected by a new, 13 sign of the zodiac - Ophiuchus. Now many people will change their old zodiac patrons. Ophiuchus found its place between Scorpio and Sagittarius. As a result, it turned out that each sign has shifted back almost for a month. That is, someone who was under the auspices of the constellation of Scorpio changed his sign to Libra, Virgo to Lion, Cancer to Gemini and so on. That's how they changed the dates of the zodiacs. Most people were unhappy with this innovation. They do not want to change their heavenly patrons, who have been used since birth. A new sign Ophiuchus and does mislead many people. After all, everything new is usually treated with suspicion and skepticism.

Whom to believe?

In the question of whether the zodiac - what is and how many signs there are, there is absolutely no real answer. One can only lean toward the thoughts of astrologers or the statements of scientists. Some agree with the new distribution of zodiacal signs, others do not. Of course, astrological observations can not be cast aside in a distant corner. After all, who knows, maybe it is the stars who decide how the destiny of a certain person will turn. But do not fixate on horoscopes. Not always they tell the truth and, moreover, are correctly formed. Therefore, you can not rely only on the location of the stars. To understand yourself and your character alone, and not reading horoscopes, is the surest way to success in any endeavors.