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Astrology basics

Zodiac sign dates

Your zodiac (Sun) sign is the sign the Sun was passing through when you were born. Here are the dates for all twelve signs — and a calculator if your birthday falls near a change-over.

SignDatesElementModeRuler
Aries illustrationAriesMar 21 – Apr 19FireCardinalMars
Taurus illustrationTaurusApr 20 – May 20EarthFixedVenus
Gemini illustrationGeminiMay 21 – Jun 20AirMutableMercury
Cancer illustrationCancerJun 21 – Jul 22WaterCardinalMoon
Leo illustrationLeoJul 23 – Aug 22FireFixedSun
Virgo illustrationVirgoAug 23 – Sep 22EarthMutableMercury
Libra illustrationLibraSep 23 – Oct 22AirCardinalVenus
Scorpio illustrationScorpioOct 23 – Nov 21WaterFixedPluto & Mars
Sagittarius illustrationSagittariusNov 22 – Dec 21FireMutableJupiter
Capricorn illustrationCapricornDec 22 – Jan 19EarthCardinalSaturn
Aquarius illustrationAquariusJan 20 – Feb 18AirFixedUranus & Saturn
Pisces illustrationPiscesFeb 19 – Mar 20WaterMutableNeptune & Jupiter

Why zodiac dates shift by a day

Our calendar year is about 365¼ days long, but the Sun's journey around the zodiac doesn't line up perfectly with it. Leap years nudge the dates back and forth, so the Sun enters Aries anywhere from March 19 to March 21 depending on the year and your time zone. That's why you'll see slightly different dates on different websites — the table above shows the traditional dates, and the list shows this year's exact moments.

Elements and modes in one glance

Each sign combines an element — fire (action), earth (practicality), air (ideas) or water (feelings) — with a mode: cardinal signs start each season, fixed signs hold it steady and mutable signs prepare for change. Aries, for example, is cardinal fire: it begins spring with energy and initiative.

Your Sun sign is only one part

Your Sun sign describes your core identity. Your Moon sign shows your emotional needs, and your Rising sign how you come across to others. Together they make your "big three".

Common questions

What are the dates of the 12 zodiac signs?

Aries Mar 21–Apr 19, Taurus Apr 20–May 20, Gemini May 21–Jun 20, Cancer Jun 21–Jul 22, Leo Jul 23–Aug 22, Virgo Aug 23–Sep 22, Libra Sep 23–Oct 22, Scorpio Oct 23–Nov 21, Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21, Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 19, Aquarius Jan 20–Feb 18, Pisces Feb 19–Mar 20. Exact change-over times vary by a day from year to year.

Why do zodiac dates differ between websites?

The Sun enters each sign at a slightly different time every year, and the calendar date depends on your time zone. That is why a sign can start on the 19th, 20th or 21st. Our calculator uses the real position of the Sun for your birth date.

What does "born on the cusp" mean?

You were born on a day when the Sun moved from one sign into the next. Your Sun sign is whichever sign the Sun was in at your exact birth time. A birth chart with your birth time and place gives the definitive answer.

Is my sign different in Vedic astrology?

Yes, often. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, tied to the seasons. Vedic (Indian and Sri Lankan) astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, tied to the stars, which is currently about 24° behind — so most people's Vedic Sun sign is the previous sign.