The Zodiac is a band of constellations that extends roughly nine degrees on each side of the ecliptic, the sun's apparent yearly path through our sky.
Ancient Greek astronomers divided the zodiac into 12 parts. Over time, Earth's slight rotational wobble has shifted the ecliptic by more than 30 degrees against the backdrop of stars. The 18-degree-wide now also includes parts of Cetus (the Whale) and Orion (the Hunter).
Constellations seen from the Northern Hemisphere became standardized through the observations of ancient Western and Middle Eastern cultures. Those of the Southern Sky were named mostly by European ocean voyagers.
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Constellations of the Zodiac |
Constellations seen from the Northern Hemisphere became standardized through the observations of ancient Western and Middle Eastern cultures. Those of the Southern Sky were named mostly by European ocean voyagers.
