What is the zodiac? The zodiac is the line on the celestial s | Ask Me
What is the zodiac?
The zodiac is the line on the celestial sphere (the full pattern of stars as seen in the night sky) along which the sun seems to move during a full year. The position of the sun on any day can be discovered by observing which stars are just above the horizon at the point where the sun is about to rise or has recently set. They will be the same group of stars at the beginning or end of the same day, even though appearing in the east at dawn and in the west at dusk - for the sun's position in relation to the stars, as seen from earth, hardly changes within a day.
The concept of the zodiac was introduced by the Babylonians who realized that the zodiac can serve as a yardstick of celestial time if divided into recognizable and equal segments. They selected twelve constellations to represent these segments and gave them the names of animals.
The Greeks later provided the term for the zodiac when they describe it as the 'animal circle' (zodiakos kyklos).
In succession these constellations are Aries (the Ram) Taurus (Bull) Gemini (Twins) Cancer (Crab) Leo (Lion) Virgo (Virgin) Libra (Scales) Scorpio (Scorpion) Sagittarius (Archer) Capricornus (Goat) Aquarius (Water Carrier) Pisces (Fishes)
