What Are Zodiac Signs?
Zodiac signs are 12 sections of the sky, each linked to a specific time of year. Your zodiac sign, also called your sun sign or star sign, is based on where the sun was positioned on the day you were born. Each of the 12 signs has its own symbol, personality traits and ruling planet that astrologers use to understand human behavior, relationships and life tendencies.Explore The Zodiac
All 12 Zodiac Signs in Order
There are 12 zodiac signs in Western astrology. They run in a fixed order starting from Aries in late March and ending with Pisces in mid-March the following year.| # | Sign | Symbol | Date Range | Element | Planet | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aries | ♈ Ram | Mar 21 – Apr 19 | Fire | Mars | Cardinal |
| 2 | Taurus | ♉ Bull | Apr 20 – May 20 | Earth | Venus | Fixed |
| 3 | Gemini | ♊ Twins | May 21 – Jun 20 | Air | Mercury | Mutable |
| 4 | Cancer | ♋ Crab | Jun 21 – Jul 22 | Water | Moon | Cardinal |
| 5 | Leo | ♌ Lion | Jul 23 – Aug 22 | Fire | Sun | Fixed |
| 6 | Virgo | ♍ Maiden | Aug 23 – Sep 22 | Earth | Mercury | Mutable |
| 7 | Libra | ♎ Scales | Sep 23 – Oct 22 | Air | Venus | Cardinal |
| 8 | Scorpio | ♏ Scorpion | Oct 23 – Nov 21 | Water | Mars / Pluto | Fixed |
| 9 | Sagittarius | ♐ Archer | Nov 22 – Dec 21 | Fire | Jupiter | Mutable |
| 10 | Capricorn | ♑ Sea-Goat | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Earth | Saturn | Cardinal |
| 11 | Aquarius | ♒ Water-Bearer | Jan 20 – Feb 18 | Air | Saturn / Uranus | Fixed |
| 12 | Pisces | ♓ Fish | Feb 19 – Mar 20 | Water | Jupiter / Neptune | Mutable |
What About the 13th Zodiac Sign?
You may have heard of Ophiuchus, sometimes called the 13th zodiac sign. It is a real constellation the Sun passes through, but it is not part of Western astrology. The Western zodiac divides the sky into 12 equal sections rather than using actual constellation sizes. So officially, Western astrology still uses 12 zodiac signs.The 4 Zodiac Elements
Every zodiac sign belongs to one of four elements: Fire, Earth, Air or Water. These elements describe broad tendencies in how a sign thinks, feels and moves through the world.Fire
Aries, Leo, SagittariusEarth
Taurus, Virgo, CapricornAir
Gemini, Libra, AquariusWater
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces| Element | Signs | Core Energy | Gets Along With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Action, passion, boldness | Air signs |
| Earth | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Stability, practicality, patience | Water signs |
| Air | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Ideas, communication, social energy | Fire signs |
| Water | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Emotion, intuition, depth | Earth signs |
Zodiac Modalities
Beyond elements, each zodiac sign also belongs to a modality, also called a quality. The modality describes how a sign approaches change, action and life in general.01 • Cardinal
Initiators
Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Cardinal signs are associated with starting new things, taking initiative and beginning each season.02 • Fixed
Stabilizers
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Fixed signs are associated with determination, consistency and seeing things through.03 • Mutable
Adapters
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Mutable signs are associated with adapting, evolving and shifting gears.All 12 Zodiac Signs: Personality Traits & Key Facts
Here is a quick guide to each of the 12 zodiac signs, including their personality traits, strengths, weaknesses and compatibility.♈
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Bold, fast and fearless, Aries people jump into life headfirst.
They are associated with courage, competition, enthusiasm and
natural leadership.
CourageousCompetitiveImpulsiveLeaderEnthusiastic
♉
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Patient, loyal and comfort-loving, Taurus is associated with
dependability, sensuality, determination and stability.
ReliableStubbornSensualPatientLoyal
♊
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Quick, curious and communicative, Gemini is associated with
adaptability, wit, variety and intellectual curiosity.
CuriousWittyAdaptableRestlessVersatile
♋
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Nurturing, protective and deeply emotional, Cancer is strongly
associated with family, home, intuition and loyalty.
NurturingIntuitiveProtectiveMoodyLoyal
♌
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Warm, generous and magnetic, Leo is associated with confidence,
creativity, loyalty and expressive energy.
ConfidentGenerousCreativeExpressiveLoyal
♍
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Analytical, hardworking and detail-oriented, Virgo is associated
with practical thinking, service and continuous improvement.
AnalyticalPreciseHelpfulCriticalPractical
♎
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Charming, fair and diplomatic, Libra is associated with balance,
partnership, communication and harmony.
CharmingFairSocialDiplomaticBalanced
♏
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Deep, perceptive and determined, Scorpio is associated with
intensity, transformation, privacy and emotional depth.
IntensePerceptiveDeterminedSecretiveMagnetic
♐
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Adventurous, optimistic and freedom-loving, Sagittarius is
associated with exploration, independence and philosophy.
AdventurousOptimisticHonestIndependentPhilosophical
♑
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Disciplined, strategic and ambitious, Capricorn is associated
with responsibility, structure and long-term goals.
AmbitiousDisciplinedResponsibleReservedPractical
♒
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Original, independent and visionary, Aquarius is associated
with innovation, humanitarian thinking and unconventional ideas.
OriginalHumanitarianIntellectualIndependentRebellious
♓
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Deeply empathetic, creative and intuitive, Pisces is associated
with imagination, compassion and emotional sensitivity.
EmpatheticCreativeIntuitiveSelflessImaginative
Zodiac Signs Compatibility
Zodiac compatibility looks at how two signs relate to each other, whether their energies blend naturally or tend to clash. It is often used for romantic relationships, friendships and work partnerships.| Your Element | Gets Along Best With | Often Clashes With |
|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Fire | Air – fans the flame | Water – puts it out |
| 🌍 Earth | Water – nourishes growth | Fire – burns it dry |
| 💨 Air | Fire – fuels it higher | Earth – too slow-moving |
| 💧 Water | Earth – grounds the emotion | Fire – evaporates it |
♈ ♌
Aries + Leo
Fire connection ♉ ♋
Taurus + Cancer
Earth + Water ♊ ♒
Gemini + Aquarius
Air connection ♏ ♓
Scorpio + Pisces
Water connection ♍ ♑
Virgo + Capricorn
Earth connection Sun Sign vs. Moon Sign vs. Rising Sign
Most people know their sun sign, but astrology also uses the moon sign and rising sign. Together, these are often called the “Big Three.”Sun Sign
Based on your birth date. Associated with core identity, ego and life purpose.Moon Sign
Based on the Moon’s position at birth. Associated with emotions, instincts and inner self.Rising Sign
Based on your exact birth time and location. Associated with first impressions and outward personality.| Sign Type | Based On | What It Reveals |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Sign | Your birth date | Core identity, ego, life purpose |
| Moon Sign | Moon’s position at birth | Emotions, instincts, inner self |
| Rising Sign | Your exact birth time and location | First impression, outward personality |
Zodiac Signs and Ruling Planets
Every zodiac sign is governed by a planet or, in two cases, the Sun and Moon. The ruling planet brings its own energy and themes to the sign it governs.| Sign | Ruling Planet | Core Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mars | Drive, courage, action |
| Taurus | Venus | Beauty, love, comfort |
| Gemini | Mercury | Communication, intellect, speed |
| Cancer | Moon | Emotion, intuition, nurturing |
| Leo | Sun | Confidence, identity, vitality |
| Virgo | Mercury | Analysis, service, attention to detail |
| Libra | Venus | Harmony, relationships, aesthetics |
| Scorpio | Mars / Pluto | Power, transformation, depth |
| Sagittarius | Jupiter | Expansion, luck, wisdom |
| Capricorn | Saturn | Discipline, structure, responsibility |
| Aquarius | Saturn / Uranus | Innovation, independence, rebellion |
| Pisces | Jupiter / Neptune | Imagination, spirituality, compassion |
Zodiac Signs and Career Strengths
Your zodiac sign can be used as a reflection on the kinds of working styles and strengths associated with each sign.| Sign | Career Paths | Core Work Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | Entrepreneur, athlete, military, sales | Initiative and fearlessness |
| Taurus | Finance, real estate, chef, designer | Patience and follow-through |
| Gemini | Journalism, marketing, teaching, PR | Communication and adaptability |
| Cancer | Nursing, social work, education, chef | Empathy and care |
| Leo | Acting, management, design, politics | Leadership and charisma |
| Virgo | Healthcare, accounting, editing, research | Precision and analysis |
| Libra | Law, diplomacy, HR, art and design | Fairness and negotiation |
| Scorpio | Psychology, detective work, finance, medicine | Depth and investigation |
| Sagittarius | Travel, publishing, philosophy, coaching | Optimism and big-picture thinking |
| Capricorn | Business, engineering, government, banking | Ambition and discipline |
| Aquarius | Tech, science, activism, UX design | Innovation and independent thought |
| Pisces | Art, music, therapy, writing, healthcare | Creativity and compassion |
How to Find Your Zodiac Sign?
Finding your zodiac sign is simple. Know your birth date, match it to the date range and, if you were born close to a sign change, check your exact birth time and chart.| Your Birthday Falls Between | Your Zodiac Sign |
|---|---|
| March 21 – April 19 | ♈ Aries |
| April 20 – May 20 | ♉ Taurus |
| May 21 – June 20 | ♊ Gemini |
| June 21 – July 22 | ♋ Cancer |
| July 23 – August 22 | ♌ Leo |
| August 23 – September 22 | ♍ Virgo |
| September 23 – October 22 | ♎ Libra |
| October 23 – November 21 | ♏ Scorpio |
| November 22 – December 21 | ♐ Sagittarius |
| December 22 – January 19 | ♑ Capricorn |
| January 20 – February 18 | ♒ Aquarius |
| February 19 – March 20 | ♓ Pisces |
Frequently Asked Questions About Zodiac Signs
What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?
The 12 zodiac signs in order are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.How many zodiac signs are there?
There are 12 zodiac signs in Western astrology. Ophiuchus is a real constellation but is not part of the Western zodiac system.What is my zodiac sign by birthday?
Your zodiac sign is based on your birth date. Match your birthday with the date ranges in the zodiac lookup table above.What zodiac sign is July? What sign is December?
July includes Cancer from July 1–22 and Leo from July 23–31. December includes Sagittarius from December 1–21 and Capricorn from December 22–31.What is the difference between a sun sign and a star sign?
They are two names commonly used for the same concept. Sun sign is the astrological term, while star sign is a popular everyday term used in horoscope columns and casual conversation.What is a cusp sign in astrology?
A cusp refers to the short period around the transition from one zodiac sign to another. If your birthday falls around a sign-change date, the exact birth time and chart can be used to determine the sign.What zodiac signs are most compatible?
Astrology commonly discusses compatibility through elements and other chart placements. Examples in the supplied guide include Aries + Leo, Taurus + Virgo, Gemini + Aquarius, Cancer + Scorpio and Libra + Sagittarius.Are zodiac signs scientifically proven?
Astrology is not a science and zodiac signs have not been scientifically proven to predict personality or life events. Many people nevertheless use astrology as a framework for self-reflection.What is the difference between Western and Chinese zodiac signs?
Western zodiac signs are based on the Sun’s position and are organized around the twelve signs from Aries to Pisces. The Chinese zodiac uses twelve animal signs based on birth year.COSMIC KAY