The Zodiac is a celestial coordinate system of twelve “signs,” based on twelve constellations used in astronomy and astrology. The zodiac is divided into 12 signs. Each zodiac sign occupies 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponds to the constellations of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
A person’s zodiac sign or sun sign is determined by the constellation behind the Sun (from our perspective on earth) at the time of the person’s birth. When people use the terms ‘zodiac sign’, ‘astrological sign’, ‘star sign’, they usually mean this. For example, if a person is born on August 10, when the constellation Leo is behind the sun (from our perspective here on earth), then, that person’s zodiac sign or sun sign, is Leo.
The term zodiac comes from the Greek words zodiakos kyklos which means ‘circle of animals.’ The Zodiac; the ring of constellations that the Sun passes through – the path that the Sun follows as it seems to “go around the earth” throughout the year, is also called the ecliptic.