Ophiuchus: the 13th zodiac sign?

Earth’s alignment dates of many zodiac signs have changed, there may be 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.

LONDON: Your zodiac sign may not actually be your zodiac sign anymore. Astronomer Parke Kunkle claimed on an NBC show that due to changes in the Earth’s alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.

Kunkle, who is a board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, says that as the Earth and Sun slowly move, the signs gradually change. The change didn’t happen overnight either. The 12 signs were designated to different periods of the year almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began, and since then the Earth’s position in relation to the sun has changed.

However, not every astrologer is in agreement with this explanation. “We’ve known about this for ages. The constellations don’t suggest what’s coming up, it’s the planets! The constellations are a measuring device,” another astrologer Susan Miller is quoted to have told ABC News.

She said over time the original number of 50 constellations were brought down to 18 and later to 12 as they are now. The insertion of a new sign would mean reversal of the entire process.

While the sign many people were born under may now be different, it shouldn’t affect horoscope readings, according to NBC.

Furthermore, many astrologers themselves are now criticising the debate on the internet as they feel that new sign would mean more complicated calculations being required before giving pre-set computer-based Zodiac predictions.

While many might disagree with the changes in zodiac signs, even astronomers cannot deny the historical significance of Ophiuchus.

The sign is an enormous constellation that is located in the celestial equator right next to the nucleus of the Milky Route and in the opposed zone to Orion. It can be seen during the months of April to October in both hemispheres without any difficulty.

The curiosity about Ophiuchus arises because the ecliptic (the line where the Sun) and the planets move across the constellation during the first fortnight of December.

Therefore, in itself, Ophiuchus is a zodiac symbol but is not a recognised constellation and hence, its south limit was first assigned to Scorpius.

Ophiuchus was first located on the April 17 in 1982 from the Majorcan locality of Inca in Spain. And while the new star has caused controversy amongst astrologers, it has spread shock and confusion amongst many non-astrologers as well. “My star has changed, does that mean I have changed?” seems to be the most popular phrase amongst those who check their horoscope religiously and live by their predictions. THE HUFFINGTON POST

WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES AND MALLORCAWEB.COM

See if your Zodiac sign has changed

Capricorn: 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

Scorpio: November 23 - November 29

Ophiuchus: November 29 - December 17

Sagittarius: December 17 - January 20

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2011.