Origins of the Zodiac

The Sumerian civilization (Mesopotamia) developed mathematics using a counting system that was based on the number 60, from which was born the concept of 360degrees for a circle (60 x 60) and the actual time system. 
They also divided the day (mean circumference) in "12 Steps" solar, which would later become the 12-hour and 12 hours of the night.

They believed that the stars were fixed to the sphere located beyond Saturn, hence so-called "fixed stars" to the stars and "shooting stars" to the planets. They were the first to define the 12 constellations of the zodiac, who traveled in 12 periods which together formed a solar year. Hence, the year was divided into 12 months and four seasons of three months each.
However, the priest-astronomers or astrologers of ancient Egypt were the ones who passed this knowledge and their own observations of the sky to the Greeks, who in turn were a source of knowledge for astronomers and scientists from the Middle Ages.

Astronomy Zodiac: The relation between astronomy and zodiac signs

The word “zodiac” comes from the Greek zodiacs (circle of animals) and with it the sky was divided into twelve parts including each of the zodiacal signs and other constellations, which were assigned mainly mythological names. The ecliptic, or apparent movement that makes the sun around the Earth, is conventionally divided into twelve sections which are located the 12 constellations that make up the zodiac, so that each month the sun through one of the signs of the Zodiac, precisely that which we can not see at night.

Since the subdivisions of the zodiac received their names, the precession of the equinoxes (rolling movement around the axis of rotation) shifted the zodiacal band of the sky as it is seen from the Earth, but the old names have not been modified, thus these names have not relation at all with the original constellation.

Astrological Zodiac

The Astrological Zodiac is Chaldean legacy, a people who lived three thousand years ago in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) who believed in the stars was the will of the gods. They divided the sky into twelve equal parts (30 degrees each) and gave the constellation name as observed here and today we know as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. However, the word Zodiac is of Greek origin and means (in ancient Greek) something like "animal environment," referring to the Chaldean beliefs.

Today, the position of the constellations does not "fit" with the zodiacal signs (Chaldeans) of the same name. By comparing a map of the stars made ​​by the Greeks in antiquity with a current map, we see that the focus of rotation of the Earth (precession equinoctial) has moved about ten (or more) degrees. The North Star at that time was not right on the North Pole as today, and, Ecuador, during the time it has moved about thirty degrees.

Should be noted that the Greeks had knowledge about it because, the "equinoctial precession" was discovered by Claudius Ptolemy comparing their measurements of the position of the stars with which Hipparchus had done two centuries earlier. Newton discovered that the axis of rotation of the Earth is not fixed because the Earth is not completely spherical because the gravitational forces exercised by the moon and sun acting on the Earth's equatorial bulge.

                       
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Origins of the names of the Zodiac

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Also called "The Sheep"

Frixo and Hele are children of Atamante, king of Tesalia and of Néfele. After he remaining a widower, Atamante returns to marry Ino. Some years later the kingdom suffers a stage of famine and the queen Ino decides to sacrifice the brothers to end this pernicious epoch. Hermes saves the children delivering them to him to a sheep (ruminant sheep Mammal, macho, with big horns fluted and coiled in spiral and covered body of wool thickens in the shape of golden fleece) fast, endowed of the gift of the word. Frixo and Hele divide on him course to Asia, saving his lives. During the trip Hele it falls to the sea and suffocates. Frixo comes to the Cólquida (country in the one that was the golden fleece), whose king Eetes receives it and him grants in marriage his daughter Calcíope.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

In Egypt there is associated the god Osiris, who was represented by a god - bull, and to his sister Isis, represented by a goddess - cow. In Greece this constellation has two histories that narrate Zeus's loving adventures. 

The first one in which Ío is converted into a cow by Hera and the second one, in which Europe is seduced by Zeus in a beach, disguised as white bull. In the same moment in which Europe rises to the loin of the bull, this one crosses the ocean and the ride up to Crete, where it possesses it. 

The Romans were identifying to the bull with Baco. During the holidays, a covered bull of flowers was receiving the escort of the young ballerinas who were representing the accumulations of the Pléyades and the Híades.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

This constellation is represented by the twin Cástor and Pólux, children of Leda (wife of the Spartan king Tindareo and of Zeus). The twin ones were born of an egg, together with Hellene of Troy. They are known like " dioscuros or children of Zeus ". 

In the majority of the stories, only Pólux is considered to be immortal (for being a son of Zeus), since it was said that Cástor was a son of Tindareo for what he was mortal. Cástor, had reputation of roughrider and soldier's Pólux of exploits. His first exploit was to liberate his sister Helena, who from girl had been kidnapped by Teseo.

When Cástor died for the lance of Goings, Pólux, after avenging him, he asked Zeus to give the immortality to his brother, and since then both brothers form in the skies the constellation of Gemini.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

In Greek mythology, Cancer was sent to distract Hercules when it was fighting against the monster Hidra. Hercules squashed to the crab with his foot, and in prize for his efforts, the goddess Hera put it between the stars.

LEO (July 23-August 22)

In the myth of twelve Heracles's works (Hercules in the Roman mythology), I Read he identifies with Nemea's León. In the history, Heracles must skin a monstrous lion which skin was resistant to the stones and the metal. After fighting against the lion against his nake hands and after having drowned it up to killing it, Heracles used the claws of the lion for skinned. With the skin there was done a cap that was making it invulnerable; and with the head of the animal, a hull.

VIRGO (August 23-September 22)

Also called "The Virgin''

The Virgo's description has his origin in the former culture Assyrian Babylonian. Always it has been a feminine constellation, and has been specially associated with the existing tension between the fertility and purity. The Babylonians were associating this constellation with the goddess Ishtar, also known under the name of Ashtoreth or Astarté. 

One of the myths on Ishtar tells that this goddess went down to the hell to recover his late lover, the god of the crops, Tammuz. Nevertheless, the goddess remained enclosed in the subworld and his sadness brought the misfortune to the Earth, which produced that the big gods were leaving her at liberty.

LIBRA (September 23-October 23)

The scale of pound is strongly linked to the goddess Armonía (daughter of Venus and Mars), which matrimonial reality went back with Cadmos, moment in which one competed from there the topic of gifts of wedding between the gods, these gifts were competing in a "delicacy" of jewels and majestic dresses. It is said that from the moment in which Atenea put his peplo (wide, free Vestment and without sleeves used by the women in the former Greece) and Efesto his precious necklace, Pound could not stop being tied to the lustful of the life, is thus that the words harmony, concord and good taste formed a part of this sector of the zodiac.

 SCORPIUS (October 24-November 21)

This myth is born of an old Greek legend related to the attempt of Orión's seduction towards Artemis. Orión was a giant, famous for his beauty and his enormous strength, son of the Earth and of Poseidon. His stature was allowing him to walk along the sea bed preserving the head out of the water. It is said that one day Artemis was hunting when one appeared in the middle of the forest the giant Orión. 

East she was seen young and beautiful and tried to seduce her, but Artemis was a chaste divinity and to defend itself he claimed the help of a scorpion. The scorpion punctured mortally the giant and liberated Artemis. Artemis, to reward him, placed it in the sky, in the opposite side of Orión's constellation.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 22)

Also called "The Archer"

According to the mythology, this constellation is the image of the centaur Quirón, a being who was differing from the others for his wisdom and knowledge, which it was born of the love between Stopwatches and the nymph Filira, and man had the strange form of half, half horse, because his father had to turn into horse to be able to procreate it. It is said that his mother on having seen that it had generated to a monster asked the gods to transform it, being she turned into linden (a tree).

CAPRICORNUS (December 23-January 19)

It receives the name of "goat", from the times of the Babylonians. Sometimes it is represented as a goat, but generally one adds the tail of a fish, due to the legend of the God Bread, who when he was fleeing of the monster Typhoon, threw to the Nile. The plunged part turned into tail of fish, whereas the top part continued being a goat.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18)

Also called "The water carrier"

The son of the king Tros of Troy, Ganímedes, was the most beautiful of the young persons of the Earth. For it, the gods chose it in order that always it was taking the golden glass of nectar of the gods and granted to him the gift of the eternal youth. In other versions, Zeus, the king of the gods, was wishing the young person. Disguised, Zeus kidnapped the boy and took it to the Olympus to turn it into his personal copero. This Ganímedes's kidnapping, it had many repercussions in the Olympus. Ganímedes's arrival, it was displacing Hebe, goddess of the youth and daughter of Hera (wife of Zeus). Hera felt offended by the insult to Hebe and for the shame to know that Zeus had fallen in love with a boy. The attitude of his wife enraged Zeus, which praised Ganímedes giving him a place in the stars.

PISCES (February 19-March 20)

This one is a constellation of Babylonian origin. In her they saw to two fish that were escaping for the river Euphrates, with his tails tied to a rope not to get lost. The fish were Aphrodite and his son Eros, two gods who took this form of fish to flee of Typhoon, the marine monster of multiple heads.

Zodiac Contellations 

Capricornus:

The sun passes through this constellation from January 19 to February 18 or so. Its brightest star is Delta Capricorni (Deneb Algedi).Between August and September reached its highest point in the night sky. 

Aquarius:

Is highest in the night sky between August and October. The Sun crosses the region from mid February to mid March. The stars range (called Sadachbia), eta, theta and pi are a small "Y", sub group of stars that marks this constellation.

Pisces:

Is higher in the night sky in October and November. The sun passes through Pisces from mid-March to mid April and therefore,     is the constellation of the March Equinox.

Aries:

Aries is highest in the night sky in June and July. The Sun crosses the region of the sky from mid-April to mid May

Taurus:

This constellation's brightest star is Aldebaran, the bull's eye. It is higher in the night sky between December and January. The sun passes through this constellation from 14 May to 21 June.

Gemini:

The brightest stars of this constellation are the heads of both twins, Castor and Pollux. Fun fact: The planets Neptune and Pluto were discovered passing through this constellation.

Cancer:

This constellation is highest in the night skies in February and March. The Sun crosses between mid July and mid August.

Leo:

This constellation, along with Taurus, is one of the zodiacal constellations brighter. The sun passes through it from 10 August to 16 September.

Virgo:

Spica is the star, which means "ear of wheat" Virgo brings object in his hand. It is higher in the night sky between April and June. The sun passes through this constellation from 16 September to 31 October.

Libra:

Is higher in the night sky between April and  June. The Sun crosses the region between late October and late November. Fun fact: Previously seen as part of Scorpius and therefore the names of their parent stars   mean "most northern pincer" (alpha) and "most southern claw" (beta).

Scorpius:

It is highest in the night sky in June and July (its brightest star is Antares). The Sun passes briefly through this constellation from 23 to 29 November.

Sagittarius:

July and August are the months that are higher in the night sky. The Sun crosses this constellation between December 18 and January 19. The "coffee" is the core group of notable stars in this constellation and an easily identifiable figure. It consists of eight stars which together seem to form the lid, the handle, the spout and the body of the pot.

News:

Zodiac Gets a 13th Sign: Ophiuchus

Astronomers say astrologers have got it all wrong: The Zodiac as we know it has been off for thousands of years because of wobbles in the Earth's axis. Star sign dates as people know them are incorrect, according to the Minnesota Planetarium Society, and people born between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17 actually belong to a 13th sign: Ophiuchus, the snake-handler

The "new" sign—which was originally discarded by the Babylonians, who wanted just 12 signs per year—is associated with healing, enlightenment, medicine, and higher education, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligence. But some astrologers say people don't need to worry about their star sign having shifted: Most Western astrologers adhere to the tropical zodiac, a system fixed to seasons, rather than the constellation-based system the Babylonians came up with, reports CNN 

 ...Some History About

Our Ancestors observed that the sun described certain celestialregions suffering never changes, this also explains the eclipsesand movements of both the planet and the moon. For thisgrouped into constellations of stars that were at the bottom ofthese regions and put them calestes animal names (except books), because their shapes reminded.

The word zodiac comes from the Greek "zoos" ("having life").These constellations are not magic or something similar, what makes them special is the 75 remaining constellations that mark the path of the Sun   called the ecliptic (circle of eclipses).

These constellations are well known and there is nobody in the world who knows anything about it, but this  fame is not owed ​​toastronomy, but the astrology that has divided the 12 zodiacal houses or constellations of  30 ° of celestial longitude each . But the strange thing is that he has not seen the sun crosses 12 constellations, but 13. Where the latter passes the sun between 30 November and 18 December and is called Ophiuchus (the constellation of the mythical Aesculapius, god of medicine of the Romans and the Greeks called Ascepios, son of Apollo).

Why was this discrepancy between astrology and astronomy?
He says the reason is that in the First Assembly of theInternational Astronomical Union, held in Rome in 1922, was fixed shape and size of all the constellations, this was donewithout consulting any astrologer. And finally was the official division of the sky where the zodiacal constellations said to be 13 and not 12 as previously thought.

Change of dates for star signs revolutionary Internet

After last Sunday's news was published in "The Star Tribune" has produced a great revolution in Internet. What if all your life do was sign Virgo and overnight they tell you not?

All this is said to have occurred because in these 2000 years, themoon's gravity that affects the orientation of the axis of the earth, so until a time when we talked about Pisces, we were referring to Aquarius.

So you could say that the zodiacal signs deal today that do not work, because they rely on outdated and erroneous basis

Capricurnius: January 20 – February 16
Aquarius: February 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11 – April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – August 10
Leo: August 10 – September 16
Virgo: September 16 – October 30
Libra: October 30 – November 23
scorpion: November 23 – November 29
Ofiuco: November 29 – December 17
Sagittarius: December 17 – January 20

Your 2011 Horoscope? It's Wrong




If you’re basing your plans for the coming year on astrological predictions, you might want to think again. The Zodiac was established 2,500 years ago, and the signs were based on the constellation the sun was in on a person's birth date. But in those 2,500 years, the Earth has wobbled (scientific term: precession), meaning “your” sign has moved about one month—so it isn’t actually your sign. Of course, there’s also the fact, as LiveScience makes sure to note, that astrology is not a science…

Signs of the Zodiac are the new requirement becomes when submitted to job postings

"Virgo and Scorpio, abstain. Capricorn, Libra and Pisces have priority", according to a job advertisement posted on the campus of the University of Geology of China in Wuhan. The advertisement had been placed by a high school education and training for English teachers and clerks. Among the requirements specified the zodiac sign of the staff.

Now, if a private school teaching English wants to hire new employees, why the zodiac sign is a requirement? The head of the institute, Ms. Xia, offers her explanation. According to her "research" astrological Scorpio people have a very strong personality, and can be irritated at any time. As for the people of Virgo, they are very critical and do not like doing the same job for a long time. "Before I hired people from these two signs, often argued with his colleagues and after a while they left." Ms. Xia is convinced that the people of those signs are well and "there is no exception," she said vehemently.

Liu Ya, doctor in psychology from Central China Normal University, said: "The relationship between the zodiac sign and personality lacks scientific evidence. The belief in astrologybelongs to what in psychology is called 'expectation effect'. Ms. Xia has preconceived notions about people of these two signs, and therefore judges people according to her prejudices. "

Wen Li, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Hankou, says that hiring new employees as zodiac signs violates the equality rights of applicants, so applicants can file a complaint with the department of supervision to erase this article in the job advertisement.

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Observatories:
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Observatorio Cerro Calán                       Griffith Observatory
Observatorio Collowara                          Lowell Observatory