Zodiac facts for kids
The Zodiac is the twelve constellations in the form of animals or humans.
Western Zodiac
The modern astrological signs are the simplified pictures of the signs used in the Hellenistic times. These are the twelve animals the signs represent:
- Aries (The Ram)
- Taurus (The Bull)
- Gemini (The Twins)
- Cancer (The Crab)
- Leo (The Lion)
- Virgo (The Virgin)
- Libra (The Scales)
- Scorpio (The Scorpion)
- Sagittarius (The Archer)
- Capricorn (The goat)
- Aquarius (The Water bearer)
- Pisces (The two Fish)
Chinese Zodiac
In the Chinese Zodiac, years match twelve animals in turn.
Images for kids
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The Earth in its orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to appear on the celestial sphere moving along the ecliptic (red), which is tilted 23.44° with respect to the celestial equator (blue-white).
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Modern zodiac wheel showing the 12 signs used in horoscopic astrology
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A 6th century mosaic zodiac wheel in a synagogue, incorporating Greek-Byzantine elements, Beit Alpha, Israel
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The 1st century BC Dendera zodiac (19th-century engraving)
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Angers Cathedral South Rose Window of Christ (centre) with elders (bottom half) and Zodiac (top half). Medieval stained glass by Andre Robin after the fire of 1451
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Ottoman-style sundial with folded gnomon and compass. The sundial features engraved toponyms in Arabic and zodiac symbols. Debbane Palace museum, Lebanon
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The zodiac signs in a 16th-century woodcut
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18th c. star map illustrating how the feet of Ophiuchus cross the ecliptic.
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Astrophotos of the twelve zodiac constellations
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Path taken by the point of the March equinox along the ecliptic over the past 6,000 years
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See also
In Spanish: Zodiaco para niños
