Zodiac signs and dates
| Sign | Dates | Element | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♈ Aries | 21 March – 19 April | fire | bold, energetic, direct |
| ♉ Taurus | 20 April – 20 May | earth | steady, loyal, sensual |
| ♊ Gemini | 21 May – 20 June | air | curious, witty, adaptable |
| ♋ Cancer | 21 June – 22 July | water | caring, intuitive, protective |
| ♌ Leo | 23 July – 22 August | fire | warm, generous, confident |
| ♍ Virgo | 23 August – 22 September | earth | thoughtful, precise, helpful |
| ♎ Libra | 23 September – 22 October | air | fair, charming, harmonious |
| ♏ Scorpio | 23 October – 21 November | water | deep, loyal, determined |
| ♐ Sagittarius | 22 November – 21 December | fire | optimistic, adventurous, honest |
| ♑ Capricorn | 22 December – 19 January | earth | ambitious, patient, responsible |
| ♒ Aquarius | 20 January – 18 February | air | original, kind, forward-thinking |
| ♓ Pisces | 19 February – 20 March | water | imaginative, gentle, empathetic |
Find out more
Want to know how two signs get along? Try zodiac compatibility. Curious about the Chinese zodiac too? Use the Chinese zodiac calculator.
What your sun sign means
Your sun sign shows where the Sun was on the zodiac when you were born, which is why it depends only on your birthday. Astrology reads it as your core character: what drives you and how you shine. Each sign belongs to an element, fire, earth, air or water, which explains why some signs feel instantly familiar to each other.
Cardinal, fixed and mutable signs
Besides its element, every sign has a modality. Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) like to start things, fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) like to keep going, and mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) like to adapt. That's why two fire signs, such as Aries and Leo, can still feel quite different.
Sun sign, moon sign and rising sign
A full birth chart also has a moon sign, linked to emotions, and a rising sign, linked to first impressions. Both need your birth time and place. The sun sign is the simplest starting point, which is why horoscopes are written for it.
How astrology is viewed
Sun-sign horoscopes are a fairly modern habit. The first popular newspaper horoscope column appeared in Britain in 1930, and within a few years horoscopes were a fixed part of magazines everywhere. Today many people read them for fun, a smaller group more seriously, and the sign makes an easy ice-breaker in conversation.
How it can help you
Read your sign's traits and growth edge as a mirror, not a rule. Pick the trait you're proud of and use it on purpose this week, and notice one moment where the growth edge shows up. Comparing signs with friends or a partner is also a playful way to talk about how differently people think.
An honest note
Astrology isn't science, and your sign doesn't limit who you can be. Enjoy it as a language for talking about personality.