Rumor Of Zodiac Change Has Astrology Believers Doubting Their Horoscopes
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Think you are a Capricorn? Better check… you're probably a Sag. Always considered yourself a refined and reclusive Virgo? Well… get ready to party… you're a proud, flamboyant Leo!
A story about a tangential change in the heavens has reared its head again, affecting anyone who believes in astrology… ergo millions. When it first broke back in 2011, it was struck down as a hoax. Now it's got folks riled again.
It happened last week when NASA published an article on its Tumblr page, reexamining the zodiac of the ancient Babylonians, and bringing it into the 21st century. The very first paragraph reminds readers the space agency does NOT study astrology adding, "No one has shown that astrology can be used to predict the future or describe what people are like based on their birth dates."
Still, according to their research the dates of the zodiac have shifted dramatically and there's a new sign.
After 3000 years "the sky has shifted because Earth's axis doesn't point in quite the same direction."
That axial shift translates into a 2-week date change for most signs. For example, 3000 years ago Leos were born between July 23 and August 22. Now, Leo doesn't begin until August 10 and ends September 16, will into what used to be Virgo territory.
Further complicating things is the addition of a thirteenth sign, Ophiuchus – pronounced aw-fee-oo'-kus (variations on this one will be fun... try saying it 3 times, real fast). Apparently, it's been around all along, but was omitted for convenience.
"According to the Babylonians' own ancient stories, there were 13 constellations in the zodiac. So they picked one, Ophiuchus, to leave out," says NASA.
Ophiuchus is also known as the snake-bearer and lies sandwiched in-between Scorpio and Sagittarius.
So, if you were born between November 29 to December 17, you're no longer a Sag. You're an Ophi... flamboyant, well-dressed, seeker of knowledge, good at architecture -- attributes you probably never knew you had but always felt, deep down, were simmering underneath your complicated surface, right? Ophiuchus!
So, has your sign has changed? Drumroll... Here are the new dates*:
Capricorn: January 20 to February 16
Aquarius: February 16 to March 11
Pisces: March 11 to April 18
Aries: April 18 to May 13
Taurus: May 13 to June 21
Gemini: June 21 to July 20
Cancer: July 20 to August 10
Leo: August 10 to September 16
Virgo: September 16 to October 30
Libra: October 30 to November 23
Scorpio: November 23 to November 29
Ophiuchus: November 29 to December 17
Sagittarius: December 17 to January 20
Surprised? Take solace, it's just astrology, not science. Repeat... IT'S NOT SCIENCE.
NASA says it takes no responsibility for your confusion, or your impending identity crisis.
"We didn't change any zodiac signs…we just did the math."
(*New dates were calculated by astronomers at the Minnesota Planetarium Society in 2011)
CBSSF.com writer, producer Jan Mabry is also executive producer and host of The Bronze Report. She lives in Northern California. Follow her on Twitter @janmabr.
