Zodiac - Revision history

Occultwiki at 18:20, 19 December 2024

2024-12-19T18:20:39Z

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	The zodiac is a fundamental aspect of [[astrology]] and the casting of [[horoscope]]s.		The zodiac is a fundamental aspect of [[astrology]] and the casting of [[horoscope]]s.

			In [[Kabbalah]], the Zodiac rules over the [[sefirot]] of [[chokmah]] and its opposing [[qlippoth]] [[Ghogiel]].

	==Name==		==Name==

Occultwiki at 17:57, 9 September 2023

2023-09-09T17:57:16Z

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	==Composition==		==Composition==
	As each sign takes up exactly 30 degrees of the zodiac, the average duration of the solar stay in each sign is one twelfth of a sidereal year, or 30.43 standard days. Due to Earth's slight orbital eccentricity, the duration of each sign varies appreciably, between about 29.4 days for Capricorn and about 31.4 days for Cancer. In addition, because the Earth's axis is at an angle, some signs take longer to rise than others, and the farther away from the equator the observer is situated, the greater the difference. Thus, signs are spoken of as "long" or "short" ascension.		As each sign takes up exactly 30 degrees of the zodiac, the average duration of the solar stay in each sign is one twelfth of a sidereal year, or 30.43 standard days. Due to [[Earth]]'s slight orbital eccentricity, the duration of each sign varies appreciably, between about 29.4 days for Capricorn and about 31.4 days for Cancer. In addition, because the Earth's axis is at an angle, some signs take longer to rise than others, and the farther away from the equator the observer is situated, the greater the difference. Thus, signs are spoken of as "long" or "short" ascension.

	In Western [[astrology]], and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations:		In Western [[astrology]], and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations:

Occultwiki: /* History */

2022-12-18T00:20:32Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:20, 18 December 2022
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	The zodiac and system of astrology currently in use in the Western world today has no real connection to the astrology used by the ancient [[Egyptian religion\|Egyptians]], although they do sometimes utilize the same stars. The Egyptian system was based on the fixed stars, specifically [[Sirius]] and the movement of the [[Egyptian decans\|decanal stars]] across the night sky. Although the Egyptians did organize the decans into groups, these were not in any way similar to the "connect the dots" constellations of Hellenistic and Persian astrology.		The zodiac and system of astrology currently in use in the Western world today has no real connection to the astrology used by the ancient [[Egyptian religion\|Egyptians]], although they do sometimes utilize the same stars. The Egyptian system was based on the fixed stars, specifically [[Sirius]] and the movement of the [[Egyptian decans\|decanal stars]] across the night sky. Although the Egyptians did organize the decans into groups, these were not in any way similar to the "connect the dots" constellations of Hellenistic and Persian astrology.

	The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The zodiac draws on stars in earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL.APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC. Some constellations can be traced even further back, to Bronze Age (First Babylonian dynasty) sources, including Gemini "The Twins," from MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL "The Great Twins," and Cancer "The Crab," from AL.LUL "The Crayfish," among others.		The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The zodiac draws on stars in earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL.APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC. Some constellations can be traced even further back, to Bronze Age (First Babylonian dynasty) sources, including [[Gemini]] "The Twins," from MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL "The Great Twins," and [[Cancer]] "The Crab," from AL.LUL "The Crayfish," among others.

	Around the end of the 5th century BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the ecliptic into 12 equal "signs", by analogy to 12 schematic months of 30 days each. Each sign contained 30° of celestial longitude, thus creating the first known celestial coordinate system. According to calculations by modern astrophysics, the zodiac was introduced between 409 and 398 BC, during Persian rule, and probably within a very few years of 401 BC. Unlike modern astrologers, who place the beginning of the sign of Aries at the position of the Sun at the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (March equinox), Babylonian astronomers fixed the zodiac in relation to stars, placing the beginning of Cancer at the "Rear Twin Star" (β Geminorum) and the beginning of Aquarius at the "Rear Star of the Goat-Fish" (δ Capricorni).		Around the end of the 5th century BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the ecliptic into 12 equal "signs", by analogy to 12 schematic months of 30 days each. Each sign contained 30° of celestial longitude, thus creating the first known celestial coordinate system. According to calculations by modern astrophysics, the zodiac was introduced between 409 and 398 BC, during Persian rule, and probably within a very few years of 401 BC. Unlike modern astrologers, who place the beginning of the sign of Aries at the position of the Sun at the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (March equinox), Babylonian astronomers fixed the zodiac in relation to stars, placing the beginning of Cancer at the "Rear Twin Star" (β Geminorum) and the beginning of Aquarius at the "Rear Star of the Goat-Fish" (δ Capricorni).

	Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the time of year the Sun is in a given constellation has changed since Babylonian times, the point of March equinox has moved from Aries into Pisces.		Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the time of year the Sun is in a given constellation has changed since Babylonian times, the point of March equinox has moved from [[Aries]] into [[Pisces]].

	Because the division was made into equal arcs, 30° each, they constituted an ideal system of reference for making predictions about a planet's longitude. However, Babylonian techniques of observational measurements were in a rudimentary stage of evolution. They measured the position of a planet in reference to a set of "normal stars" close to the ecliptic (±9° of latitude) as observational reference points to help positioning a planet within this ecliptic coordinate system.		Because the division was made into equal arcs, 30° each, they constituted an ideal system of reference for making predictions about a planet's longitude. However, Babylonian techniques of observational measurements were in a rudimentary stage of evolution. They measured the position of a planet in reference to a set of "normal stars" close to the ecliptic (±9° of latitude) as observational reference points to help positioning a planet within this ecliptic coordinate system.

	In Babylonian astronomical diaries, a planet position was generally given with respect to a zodiacal sign alone, less often in specific degrees within a sign. When the degrees of longitude were given, they were expressed with reference to the 30° of the zodiacal sign, i.e., not with a reference to the continuous 360° ecliptic. In astronomical ephemerides, the positions of significant astronomical phenomena were computed in sexagesimal fractions of a degree (equivalent to minutes and seconds of arc). For daily ephemerides, the daily positions of a planet were not as important as the astrologically significant dates when the planet crossed from one zodiacal sign to the next.		In Babylonian astronomical diaries, a planet position was generally given with respect to a zodiacal sign alone, less often in specific degrees within a sign. When the degrees of longitude were given, they were expressed with reference to the 30° of the zodiacal sign, i.e., not with a reference to the continuous 360° ecliptic.

	===Hebrew astronomy and astrology===		===Hebrew astronomy and astrology===
	[[File:ZodiacCircle.png\|350px\|thumb\|A modern zodiac wheel]]		[[File:ZodiacCircle.png\|350px\|thumb\|A modern zodiac wheel]]
	Knowledge of the Babylonian zodiac is said to be reflected in the Hebrew [[Bible]]; E. W. Bullinger interpreted the creatures appearing in the book of Ezekiel as the middle signs of the four quarters of the zodiac, with the Lion as Leo, the Bull is Taurus, the Man representing Aquarius and the Eagle representing Scorpio. Some authors have linked the twelve tribes of Israel with the same signs or the lunar Hebrew calendar having twelve lunar months in a lunar year. Martin and others have argued that the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle (reported in the Book of Numbers) corresponded to the order of the zodiac, with Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan representing the middle signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio, respectively.		Knowledge of the Babylonian zodiac is said to be reflected in the Hebrew [[Bible]]; E. W. Bullinger interpreted the creatures appearing in the book of Ezekiel as the middle signs of the four quarters of the zodiac, with the Lion as [[Leo]], the Bull is [[Taurus]], the Man representing [[Aquarius]] and the Eagle representing [[Scorpio]]. Some authors have linked the twelve tribes of Israel with the same signs or the lunar Hebrew calendar having twelve lunar months in a lunar year. Martin and others have argued that the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle (reported in the Book of Numbers) corresponded to the order of the zodiac, with Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan representing the middle signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio, respectively.

	==Use in astronomy==		==Use in astronomy==

Occultwiki at 17:14, 17 December 2022

2022-12-17T17:14:49Z

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	[[File:Zodiac-Signs.png\|300px\|thumb\|Signs of the Western Zodiac]]		[[File:Zodiac-Signs.png\|300px\|thumb\|Signs of the Western Zodiac]]
	The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the [[Sun]] across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the [[Moon]] and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.		The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the [[Sun]] across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the [[Moon]] and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

			The zodiac is a fundamental aspect of [[astrology]] and the casting of [[horoscope]]s.

	==Name==		==Name==

Occultwiki at 07:37, 17 December 2022

2022-12-17T07:37:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:37, 17 December 2022
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	[[File:Zodiac-Signs.png\|300px\|thumb\|Signs of the Western Zodiac]]		[[File:Zodiac-Signs.png\|300px\|thumb\|Signs of the Western Zodiac]]
	The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.		The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the [[Sun]] across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the [[Moon]] and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

			==Name==
			The English word zodiac derives from ''zōdiacus'', the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek ''zōdiakòs kýklos'' (ζῳδιακός κύκλος), meaning "cycle or circle of little animals." ''Zōdion'' (ζῴδιον) is the diminutive of ''zōon'' (ζῷον, "animal"). The name reflects the prominence of animals (and mythological hybrids) among the twelve signs.

			==Composition==
			As each sign takes up exactly 30 degrees of the zodiac, the average duration of the solar stay in each sign is one twelfth of a sidereal year, or 30.43 standard days. Due to Earth's slight orbital eccentricity, the duration of each sign varies appreciably, between about 29.4 days for Capricorn and about 31.4 days for Cancer. In addition, because the Earth's axis is at an angle, some signs take longer to rise than others, and the farther away from the equator the observer is situated, the greater the difference. Thus, signs are spoken of as "long" or "short" ascension.

	In Western [[astrology]], and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations:		In Western [[astrology]], and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations:
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	*[[Pisces]]		*[[Pisces]]

	~~These astrological~~ signs ~~form~~ a celestial coordinate system, ~~or more specifically~~ an ecliptic coordinate system, ~~which takes~~ the ecliptic as the ~~origin~~ of ~~latitude~~ and the Sun's ~~position at~~ vernal equinox as the ~~origin~~ of longitude.		==Usage==
			[[File:Zodiac circle with planets.png\|350px\|thumb\|French drawing of the Zodiac (c.1000)]]
			The zodiac was in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean period (mid-1st millennium BC), which, in turn, derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic. The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy's comprehensive 2nd century AD work, the Almagest.

			Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one, the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with [[horoscope\|horoscopic]] [[astrology]]. The term "zodiac" may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the planets corresponding to the band of about 8 arc degrees above and below the ecliptic. The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body; e.g., the "zodiac of the Moon" is the band of 5° above and below the ecliptic. By extension, the "zodiac of the comets" may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets.

			==History==
			The zodiac and system of astrology currently in use in the Western world today has no real connection to the astrology used by the ancient [[Egyptian religion\|Egyptians]], although they do sometimes utilize the same stars. The Egyptian system was based on the fixed stars, specifically [[Sirius]] and the movement of the [[Egyptian decans\|decanal stars]] across the night sky. Although the Egyptians did organize the decans into groups, these were not in any way similar to the "connect the dots" constellations of Hellenistic and Persian astrology.

			The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The zodiac draws on stars in earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL.APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC. Some constellations can be traced even further back, to Bronze Age (First Babylonian dynasty) sources, including Gemini "The Twins," from MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL "The Great Twins," and Cancer "The Crab," from AL.LUL "The Crayfish," among others.

			Around the end of the 5th century BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the ecliptic into 12 equal "signs", by analogy to 12 schematic months of 30 days each. Each sign contained 30° of celestial longitude, thus creating the first known celestial coordinate system. According to calculations by modern astrophysics, the zodiac was introduced between 409 and 398 BC, during Persian rule, and probably within a very few years of 401 BC. Unlike modern astrologers, who place the beginning of the sign of Aries at the position of the Sun at the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (March equinox), Babylonian astronomers fixed the zodiac in relation to stars, placing the beginning of Cancer at the "Rear Twin Star" (β Geminorum) and the beginning of Aquarius at the "Rear Star of the Goat-Fish" (δ Capricorni).

			Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the time of year the Sun is in a given constellation has changed since Babylonian times, the point of March equinox has moved from Aries into Pisces.

			Because the division was made into equal arcs, 30° each, they constituted an ideal system of reference for making predictions about a planet's longitude. However, Babylonian techniques of observational measurements were in a rudimentary stage of evolution. They measured the position of a planet in reference to a set of "normal stars" close to the ecliptic (±9° of latitude) as observational reference points to help positioning a planet within this ecliptic coordinate system.

			In Babylonian astronomical diaries, a planet position was generally given with respect to a zodiacal sign alone, less often in specific degrees within a sign. When the degrees of longitude were given, they were expressed with reference to the 30° of the zodiacal sign, i.e., not with a reference to the continuous 360° ecliptic. In astronomical ephemerides, the positions of significant astronomical phenomena were computed in sexagesimal fractions of a degree (equivalent to minutes and seconds of arc). For daily ephemerides, the daily positions of a planet were not as important as the astrologically significant dates when the planet crossed from one zodiacal sign to the next.

			===Hebrew astronomy and astrology===
			[[File:ZodiacCircle.png\|350px\|thumb\|A modern zodiac wheel]]
			Knowledge of the Babylonian zodiac is said to be reflected in the Hebrew [[Bible]]; E. W. Bullinger interpreted the creatures appearing in the book of Ezekiel as the middle signs of the four quarters of the zodiac, with the Lion as Leo, the Bull is Taurus, the Man representing Aquarius and the Eagle representing Scorpio. Some authors have linked the twelve tribes of Israel with the same signs or the lunar Hebrew calendar having twelve lunar months in a lunar year. Martin and others have argued that the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle (reported in the Book of Numbers) corresponded to the order of the zodiac, with Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan representing the middle signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio, respectively.

			==Use in astronomy==
			The Sun's placement upon the vernal equinox, which occurs annually around 21 March, defines the starting point for measurement, the first degree of which is historically known as the "first point of Aries". The first 30° along the ecliptic is nominally designated as the zodiac sign [[Aries]], which no longer falls within the proximity of the constellation Aries since the effect of precession is to move the vernal point through the backdrop of visible constellations (it is currently located near the end of the constellation [[Pisces]], having been within that constellation since the 2nd century AD). The subsequent 30° of the ecliptic is nominally designated the zodiac sign [[Taurus]], and so on through the twelve signs of the zodiac so that each occupies 1⁄12th (30°) of the zodiac's great circle. Zodiac signs have never been used to determine the boundaries of astronomical constellations that lie in the vicinity of the zodiac, which are, and always have been, irregular in their size and shape.

			The convention of measuring celestial longitude within individual signs was still being used in the mid-19th century, but modern astronomy now numbers degrees of celestial longitude continuously from 0° to 360°, rather than 0° to 30° within each sign. This coordinate system is primary used by astronomers for observations of solar system objects.

			The use of the zodiac as a means to determine astronomical measurement remained the main method for defining celestial positions by Western astronomers until the Renaissance, at which time preference moved to the equatorial coordinate system, which measures astronomical positions by right ascension and declination rather than the ecliptic-based definitions of celestial longitude and celestial latitude. The orientation of equatorial coordinates are aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation, rather than the plane of the planet's orbit around the [[Sun]].

			The word "zodiac" is used in reference to the zodiacal cloud of dust grains that move among the planets, and the zodiacal light that originates from their scattering of sunlight. While its name is derived from the zodiac, the zodiacal light covers the entire night sky, with enhancements in certain directions.




			{\| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;text-align:center;"
			!style="background:#fcffc7;text-align:center;"; colspan="4"\|Signs of the Tropical [[Zodiac]]
			\|-
			\|[[Aries]]<br><small>''Mar 21 - Apr 20''</small>
			\|[[Taurus]]<br><small>''Apr 21 - May 21''</small>
			\|[[Gemini]]<br><small>''May 22 - Jun 23''</small>
			\|[[Cancer]]<br><small>''Jun 24 - Jul 23''</small>
			\|-
			\|[[Leo]]<br><small>''Jul 24 - Aug 23''</small>
			\|[[Virgo]]<br><small>''Aug 24 - Sep 22''</small>
			\|[[Libra]]<br><small>''Sep 23 - Oct 23''</small>
			\|[[Scorpio]]<br><small>''Oct 24 - Nov 22''</small>
			\|-
			\|[[Sagittarius]]<br><small>''Nov 23 - Dec 21''</small>
			\|[[Capricorn]]<br><small>''Dec 22 - Jan 19''</small>
			\|[[Aquarius]]<br><small>''Jan 20 - Feb 18''</small>
			\|[[Pisces]]<br><small>''Feb 18 - Mar 20''</small>
			\|}

	[[Category:The Zodiac]]		[[Category:The Zodiac]]
	[[Category:Astrology]]		[[Category:Astrology]]

Occultwiki at 08:09, 22 January 2022

2022-01-22T08:09:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:09, 22 January 2022
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			[[File:Zodiac-Signs.png\|300px\|thumb\|Signs of the Western Zodiac]]
	The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.		The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

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	[[Category:The Zodiac]]		[[Category:The Zodiac]]
			[[Category:Astrology]]

Occultwiki at 18:00, 26 November 2021

2021-11-26T18:00:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 26 November 2021
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	The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.		The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

	In Western astrology, and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations: [[Aries]], [[Taurus]], [[Gemini]], [[Cancer]], [[Leo]], [[Virgo]], [[Libra]], [[Scorpio]], [[Sagittarius]], [[Capricorn]], [[Aquarius]]~~, and~~ [[Pisces]].		In Western [[astrology]], and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations:
			*[[Aries]]
			*[[Taurus]]
			*[[Gemini]]
			*[[Cancer]]
			*[[Leo]]
			*[[Virgo]]
			*[[Libra]]
			*[[Scorpio]]
			*[[Sagittarius]]
			*[[Capricorn]]
			*[[Aquarius]]
			*[[Pisces]]

	These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.		These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.

	[[Category:The Zodiac]]		[[Category:The Zodiac]]

Occultwiki at 17:59, 26 November 2021

2021-11-26T17:59:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 26 November 2021
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	These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.		These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.

			[[Category:The Zodiac]]

KS: Created with content derivved from Wikipedia

2021-11-23T17:42:17Z

Created with content derivved from Wikipedia

New page

The '''zodiac''' is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

In Western astrology, and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations: [[Aries]], [[Taurus]], [[Gemini]], [[Cancer]], [[Leo]], [[Virgo]], [[Libra]], [[Scorpio]], [[Sagittarius]], [[Capricorn]], [[Aquarius]], and [[Pisces]].

These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.