Yahoo News What is my new star sign? NASA's Ophiuchus dates and meaning explained
Lots of people enjoy looking up their horoscope, whether they take it seriously or do it for a bit of fun, but NASA has thrown a huge spanner in the works after declaring there are 13 star signs instead of 12.
According to a resurfaced blog post, Babylonians invented the zodiac more than 3,000 years ago to help make sense of the world.
The ancient people divided the sky into 12 sections to coincide with the 12 months of the year.
However, their system didn't completely match up with the earth's orbits so they decided to leave out Ophiuchus, the 13th sign.
What is the new star sign?
Star signs are determined by the sun's position in the sky in relation to a constellation on the day of your birth.
Not only did the Babylonians know that they had left out a sign, but the night's sky has changed and the earth's axis has altered since they devised their system.
This has led some people to believe the star signs have changed.
In the blog post NASA said as well as the "12 familiar constellations of the zodiac, the Sun is also aligned with Ophiuchus for about 18 days each year".
It added: "The Babylonians picked one, Ophiuchus, to leave out.
"Even then, some of the chosen 12 didn't fit neatly into their assigned slice of the pie and slopped over into the next one."
However, it did note that astronomy and astrology are not the same - so while experts can agree that constellations have moved over time, astrology is based on an accepted Western system.
What is Ophiuchus?
Ophiuchus is a snake bearer and is the sign for people who were born between November 29 and December 27.
It is not just Sagittarians who are affected and the addition has shaken up the zodiac as we know it.
The Zodiac Books layouts the characteristics of the sign and said: "Its people were spirited, magnetic, impulsive, clever, flamboyant, and at times jealous, power-hungry, and temperamental.
"At their hearts, they were healers who hoped to one day rid the zodiac of every ill—disease, violence, etc.—and bring everyone closer together."
Has my star sign changed under the system?
Capricorn: Previously December 22 – January 20 and now January 20 - February 16.
Aquarius: Previously January 21 - February 18 and now February 16 to March 11.
Pisces: Previously February 19 – March 20 and now March 11 to April 18.
Aries: Previously March 21 – April 20 and now April 18 to May 13.
Taurus: Previously April 21 – May 21 and now May 13 to June 21.
Gemini: Previously May 22 - June 21 and now June 21 to July 20.
Cancer: Previously June 22 to July 22 and now July 20 to August 10.
Leo: Previously July 23 to August 23 and now August 10 to September 16.
Virgo: Previously August 24 to September 22 and now September 16 to October 30.
Libra: Previously September 23 to October 23 and now October 30 to November 23.
Scorpio: Previously October 24 – November 22 and now November 23 to November 29
Ophiuchus: November 29 to December 17.
Sagittarius: Previously November 23 – December 21 and now December 17 - January 20.
