Human World

Sun’s entry into zodiac signs, 2021

Circle with zodiac signs around it and lines indicating relationships between them in middle.
An astrological chart, via Wikipedia. Want to see the difference between the sun’s location according to astrology, and the sun’s location according to astronomy? Bookmark this article and then click here for dates of sun’s entry into each constellation of the zodiac.

Astronomy and astrology are different. One difference … astrological signs of the tropical zodiac remain fixed relative to seasonal markers, such as the equinox and solstice points on the sky’s dome. Meanwhile, the constellations of the zodiac (and signs of the sidereal zodiac) slowly but surely shift eastward relative to the equinox and solstice points, over the long course of time, due to a motion of Earth called precession.

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Also, signs of both the tropical and sidereal zodiac represent equal 30 degree divisions whereas the constellations of the zodiac vary in size.

In a celestial coordinate system commonly used by astronomers and astrologers, the sun resides at the First Point of Aries on the March equinox (0 degrees of longitude on the ecliptic), regardless of the fact that the sun shines in front of the constellation Pisces on the March equinox in our day and age.

Twelve cryptic symbols labeled with the zodiac names.
Symbols for the signs of the zodiac. Both astrologers and astronomers sometimes use these symbols. Image via Wikipedia.

We provide the dates for the sun’s entry into each sign of the tropical zodiac (and corresponding ecliptic longitude) for the year 2021.

Dec 21, 2020: Sun enters sign Capricorn (270 degrees)

Jan 19, 2021: Sun enters sign Aquarius (300 degrees)

Feb 18, 2021: Sun enters sign Pisces (330 degrees)

Mar 20, 2021: Sun enters sign Aries (0 degrees)

April 19, 2021: Sun enters sign Taurus (30 degrees)

May 20, 2021: Sun enters sign Gemini (60 degrees)

June 21, 2021: Sun enters sign Cancer (90 degrees)

July 22, 2021: Sun enters sign Leo (120 degrees)

Aug 22, 2021: Sun enters sign Virgo (150 degrees)

Sep 22, 2021: Sun enters sign Libra (180 degrees)

Oct 23, 2021: Sun enters sign Scorpio (210 degrees)

Nov 22, 2021: Sun enters sign Sagittarius (240 degrees)

Dec 21, 2021: Sun enters sign Capricorn (270 degrees)

Source: Timetable of astronomical events by Guy Ottewell

Visit theplanetstoday.com to know which sign presently backdrops the sun.

Want a quick comparison of these dates with the dates of the sun’s entry into astronomical constellations? Click here. Or check out the chart below, which Guy Ottewell posted to his blog in early 2016 and is still valid for 2021. Used with permission.

Chart with astrological signs on left and constellations on right by month.
Dates of sun’s entry into astrological signs versus astronomical constellations are the same in 2021 as in 2016. Chart and more explanation at Guy Ottewell’s blog. Used with permission.

Bottom line: Dates for the sun’s entry into each sign of the zodiac (and corresponding ecliptic longitude) for the year 2021.

Dates of sun’s entry into each constellation of the zodiac

What is the zodiac?

Posted 
December 28, 2020
 in 
Human World

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Bruce McClure

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