Zodiac
in astronomy. The zone o broad belt of constellation which the sun traverses during the year in passing around the ecliptic. The moon and major planets also move within the same area. The breadth of the zodiac is about eight and a half degrees on each side of the ecliptic, or 17 in all. It is inclined to the equinoctial at an angle of 23° 28', an angle of 23°28′, the points of intersection being reached by the sun, one at the vernal and the other at the autumnal equinox. The great circle of the zodiac was divided by the ancients into 12 equal portions called signs. They were named from the constellations then adjacent to them in the following order: Aries, the Ram; Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion; Virgo , the Virgin; Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion; Sagittarius, the Archer; Capricornus, the Goat; Aquarius, the Waterbearer; and Pisces, the Fishes.
The sun formerly entered Aries on March 20; now, owing to the precession of the equinoxes, the point of the heavens intersected by the celestial equator and the ecliptic, technically called the first point of Aries, has moved well into Pisces. rly glow the Balance; Scorpio,