Would your zodiac sign change?
Some say the Earth’s wobble has changed the astrological calendar. They’ve even added a 13th sign, Ophiuchus. Check out where you’d fall in their new alignment:
Capricorn: Jan. 20 to Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 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 Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 to Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 to Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 to Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 to Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 to Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 to Jan. 20
If you are a daily horoscope aficionado, then you most certainly have heard of the startling news earlier this month that a 13th sign — Ophiuchus, also known as the more alluring sounding Serpentarius — has emerged and shifted the dates that determine your zodiac sign by about one month.
The star player in this astrological controversy is the Minnesota Planetarium Society, which is a self-described lot of “executives, astronomers, educators and everyday citizens.” The buzz started when Minneapolis astronomy instructor Parke Kunkle, also a society board member, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune this month that the Earth’s “wobble” has shifted the zodiac signs.
The Earth continually wobbles around its axis in a 25,800-year cycle. This wobble — called precession — is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the Earth, according to Cheri Adams, director of astronomy at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.
In the Star Tribune article, Kunkle had explained that the Earth’s wobbly orbit means it’s no longer aligned to the stars in the same way as when the signs of the zodiac were first conceived thousands of years ago.
That “wobble” took off like a viral comet. Twitter and Facebook were ablaze with posts. Astrologers across the country were up in arms.
One astrology website declared: “Signs OK: Astronomers just making mischief.”
Rob Brezny, who writes the weekly syndicated Free Will Astrology column for more than 100 publications (including this newspaper), wrote on his website: “News Flash: The zodiac isn’t wrong. Your sign isn’t changing. Ignore the misinformation.”
“Western astrologers don’t work with stars or constellations,” Brezny wrote on his website. “Their focus is our solar system. They study the patterns of the planets and moon as they pass through 12 zones defined by the relationship between the Earth and sun. Those zones have the same names as constellations because of a historical quirk, but they’re unrelated to the constellations.”
The phenomenon of precession of the equinoxes has been well known for quite some time, according to Pat Craig, chairman of education and outreach for the Wright State University Astronomy Club. “It’s interesting to see that this has come up again as a ‘shocking revelation’ to the public.”
But Adams says she feels the brouhaha has been a good thing, helping to revitalize interest in astronomy.
“There is a lot of excitement,” she said. “We actually have had some calls and some discussion with people who have come in.”
She confirms the wobble is a real occurrence.
“There are three motions to the Earth and most people are familiar with just two: the Earth’s rotation on its axis and the Earth’s revolution around the sun.”
But the third motion or precession is when the Earth is pulled by the moon and the sun. Although the general public might not be aware of precession, it is nothing new to astronomers. “We have been aware of this for a couple of thousand years,” Adams said. “The sun is not sitting in front of the stars as it was years ago because of this precession.”
For those astrology believers that have been left feeling the world is a little too topsy-turvy, don’t fret.
In addition to Brezny’s assurances that zodiac signs haven’t changed, others aren’t paying much attention to it either.
The Rev. Renee Ruble, a spiritual counselor and owner of Garden of the Goddess in Dayton, is not an astrologer, but says when she heard of the 13th sign, “I thought that’s interesting. I didn’t give it much stock.”
Alan Leonard, a hair stylist at Square One Salon and Spa in downtown Dayton, believes he still is a true-blue Gemini. He sports the sign of Gemini, known as the sign of the twins, just above his wrist. He got the tattoo about five years ago and has no intention of removing it.
“I’m OK with it,” he said. “I still feel like a Gemini. I don’t think people can just randomly change the zodiac signs. I’m not paying any attention to it.”
And that is just fine with Craig, who feels that astronomers need to lighten up when challenging the belief system of astrology lovers.
Leonard, for instance, truly identifies with the Gemini personality.
“We are chameleons,” he pointed out. “We can adapt to different personalities and different situations. We are very moody, and we are very creative people.”
Local tattoo parlors report there has been no big rush for astrology-inspired designs or their removal.
“Occasionally we see requests for zodiac sign tattoos. Our biggest things are flowers, crosses and memorials,” said Bob Brenner, the manager of Smart Bomb in Dayton.
If nothing else, the zodiac kerfuffle has enlightened people about both astronomy and astrology.
“Our focus in the Wright State Astronomy Club is to teach the science and then let people make up their own minds about what they want to believe in,” said Craig. “I’ve personally seen several astronomers react with unnecessary hostility toward the idea of astrology, and I don’t think that is a very productive route to take.”
Leonard stays steadfast in his belief: “The earth changes, but you can’t change the zodiac signs. I have been a Gemini for 35 years, and I have all the traits.”
Ruble, too, is unswayed. “I’m a Cancer, and a Cancer I’ll probably always be.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-0671 or rmcmacken@daytondailynews.com.
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